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Cffil's autumn atifafuturrs.— Jrontisptrrf, 





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So you are the youngsters that tried to burn me out, eh?" 

p. -tl. 



CECIL’S 

AUTUMN ADVENTUKES. 


BY THE AUTHOR OF 

“ Cecil’s Summer at Elm Terrace.” 



PHILADELPHIA: ^ 

AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, 
No. 1122 Chestnut Street. 


-f 

,Nkw Y'dre : Nos. 8 and 10 iJiBLs House, Astob Place. 


Co- 


EnUred according to Act of Congress, in the year 187S, by the 
AMERICAN SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION, 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 


/Z- 



Westcott & Thomson, 

Btcreotyi'tre and EUctra(yj>€ra, Fhilada. 


Henry B. Ashmead, 

Printer, Philada. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER I. 

PAOK 

A Day in the North Woods 7 

CHAPTER II. 

A Debate with Conscience 2S 

chapter' III. 

An Expedition to Pennyville 39 

CHAPTER IV. 

The Flood 58 

CPIAPTER V. 

The Rescue 73 

CHAPTER VI. 

School Experiences 89 

CHAPTER VII. . 

Helping Larry. — The Bonfire. 107 

1 » 5 


6 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER Vlir. 

PAGE 

A Sad Puzzle 125 

CHAPTER IX. 

The Mystery Explained 140 

CHAPTER X. 

A Boy’s Speech 159 

CHAPTER XI. 

Merry Christmas. — Conclusion 173 


CECIL’S Autumn Adventures. 


CHAPTER I. 

A DAY IN THE NORTH WOODS, 

OOD-BYE, good-byG; good-b-y-e ! ” 
called Cecil, climbing on the gate and 
leaning far over to gaze after the car- 
riage. A white handkerchief flutter- 
ed for a moment, mamma s face looked back, 
and then a curve in the road hid everything 
but the little cloud of dust which wavered 
and danced in the «unshine. 

^^Gone — all gone,” said little Benjie, sol- 
emnly, turning grave eyes up to his brother, 
and tightening the grasp of his plump fingers 
around a fold of his nurse s dress. 

Rather a big lump rose in Cecil’s throat 
as he tried to reply, and it seemed as if the 
cloud of dust had somehow got in his eyes 



8 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

and made their vision dim. For the carriage 
was whirling away papa, mamma, and Madge 
for a long, long absence, and for the first time 
in his life Cecil was to be separated from both 
parents. Nurse and Benjie remained, to be 
sure, and all were to stay at Elm Terrace 
with dear grandma and Uncle Jack. But 
nobody could fill mamma’s place, and for 
five minutes Cecil felt very lonely, and much 
like a young martyr who could never be 
happy again. 

At the end of five minutes a cheerful 
whistle sounded close at hand, and Cecil’s 
face grew decidedly brighter as he saw Eben 
Denny hastening across the lawn. 

Hallo, Eben!” he said. They’re all 
gone.” * 

“ I know it — at least I supposed they had,” 
answered his friend. Aunt Celindy thought 
you’d feel rather bad, and so she let me come 
up and see if you wanted to go to North 
woods.” 

Nutting?” said Cecil. ^^But I thought 
it was too late for that. I’m sure we’ve got 


A DAY IN THE NORTH WOODS. 


9 


busliels of nuts already, and I don’t tbink 
there can be any more left on the trees.” 

We could find plenty if we were squirrels, 
I guess,” said Eben. However, I didn’t 
mean nuts ; I meant woodchucks. Uncle saw 
tracks when he was up there yesterday, and 
he is going again to-day. So he said he’d 
take us and our trap if we wanted to go; 
and anyhow the squirrels are thick, and very 
likely we can catch one.” 

^^Well, I’m ready — that is, if grandma is 
willing, and I think she will be,” said Cecil, 
and the boys walked toward the house, whither 
nurse had already led Benjie. 

Grandma was pleased with the plan, so 
Cecil went up stairs to put on his thickest 
play-suit. ^ It was rather desolate — to see 
mamma’s room so empty and still, and to 
notice the closed blinds and unfurnished 
shelves in Madge’s little chamber opposite his 
own. Cecil sighed and then smiled. 

I must learn to get along without mamma 
some time, I do suppose,” he murmured to 
himself. ^^She certainly can’t go to West 


10 Cecil’s autumn adventuees. 

Point with me. I’ll try and remember what 
she said about it.. But oh dear! I wish I 
could have gone with her just this time.” 

It was certainly fortunate that Mr. Denny 
had business taking him in the direction of 
North woods that day; it was equally for- 
tunate that his business, whatever it was, did 
not require him to give his mind to the con- 
templation of it during his ride there. The 
two boys laughed and talked so constantly 
that he could have had little comfort of his 
meditations, I think. 

As it was, he joined sometimes in the 
chatter, and was in the midst of telling an 
odd story of his own juvenile days when the 
North woods appeared at the brow of the 
next hill, and ride and anecdote came to an 
abrupt termination. 

There I we’ve done that four miles in 
what I call quick time,” said Mr. Denny, 
turning the wheel to let the boys alight. 
^^Now, my business is first at that house 
yonder, then I shall survey up on the hill. 
You may strike for the woods as soon as 


A DAY IN THE NORTH WOODS. 11 

you like, only mind and keep along where 
we went yesterday, Eben, and don’t go too far 
in.” 

Yes, sir,” said Eben. Take that spade, 
will you, Cecil, and I’ll carry the basket.” 

^'What’s in it?” asked Cecil, eying with 
curiosity the covered basket his friend lifted. 

Turnovers and things,” said Eben, com- 
prehensively. ^^Can you manage the trap 
too ? Come on, then.” 

'^Are you going into the woods?” asked 
Cecil as the boys set off, treading under foot 
the crisp brown grass and facing the cool 
autumn breeze. 

Woodchucks don’t live in the woods,” 
said Eben; uncle told me that yesterday. 
They live in the fields near woods — in pastures, 
mostly, and sometimes around and in stone 
walls.” 

Then why aren’t they called fieldchucks, 
I wonder ?” said Cecil. Do they bite ?” 

Like sixty,” answered Eben. I’ll tell 
you : let’s set our trap for a squirrel just in- 
side the woods, and leave our luncheon-basket 


12 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

in some good place. Then we’ll hunt up 
the hole we saw yesterday and dig out the 
little scamp if we have the luck to catch 
him.” 

Dig out ?” repeated Cecil. 

Yes ; they live in holes — deep ones too ; 
and it’ll give us something to do, I can tell 
you.” 

^^But if he bites, I don’t see how we can 
catch him easily,” said Cecil, reflectively. 

Eben wisely remarked that they had better 
wait until the woodchuck’s abode was dis- 
covered before they planned how to take him, 
and then proceeded to arrange for depositing 
the trap. This article, which was an ordinary 
box-trap, such as almost every boy has seen 
and used, baited with a half ear of corn and 
a bit of apple, was soon settled in what Eben’s 
judgment declared a “ likely squirrel place,” 
and left to await the coming of such unwary 
little Bunny as might be attracted to enter 
it. Then, after a great deal of search, the sup- 
posed woodchuck’s burrow was discovered — 
a small hole almost hidden in a knoll in the 


A DAY IN THE NOETH WOODS. 


13 


pasture adjoining the woods, with a tell-tale 
little heap of sand near by. 

There, sir!” said Eben, triumphantly. 

What’ll you bet we find him at home ? 
We’ll take turns digging, and I will begin, 
or you may, just as you like.” 

^^You may, then. Seems to me a wood- 
chuck must be pretty small if that's his 
hole,” said Cecil, surveying the ground with 
some dissatisfaction. 

^^He may be small, but he’s smart. It 
isn’t always the biggest that amounts to the 
most or can do the smartest things,” said 
Eben, with an air of wisdom. 

That reminds me of a funny fable I 
heard Madge read in her French lesson the 
other day,” said Cecil. 

“ Tell it,” answered Eben, beginning to use 
his spade energetically in the not very soft 
earth. 

^'Well, the birds were going to choose a 
king. Every one wanted to be it, and they 
couldn’t agree at all, so there was the greatest 
fluttering and piping you ever heard. Finally 


14 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

they concluded that the one who could fly up 
the farthest should he chosen king. They 
all tried, and of course the eagle flew up, up, 
up, higher than all the others. But when 
he got up as far as he could possibly go, and 
was tired all out and stopped, behold ! the lit- 
tle wren had been sitting on the eagle’s back 
without his knowing it, and he flew up ever 
so much higher, twittering for joy. So he 
had to be king, though he was almost the 
littlest bird, because he was so bright and 
cunning.” 

^‘Well,” said Eben, stopping to rest, 
call that real mean in the wren. It wasn’t 
fair at all.” 

‘‘ But it was rather cunning,” said Cecil. 

“It was a cheat, that’s what it was,” de- 
clared Eben, digging away with new vigour^ 
“The eagle did the work and the wren got 
the credit, and he ought not to have had 
it. I do despise underhand doings.” 

Cecil laughed, and taking his turn at the 
spade, the work went on until even boyish zeal 
was exhausted. 


A DAY IN THE NORTH WOODS. 


15 


I don’t believe there’s any bottom at all 
to this hole, or any woodchuck there when 
we get to it,” exclaimed Cecil, at last, looking 
ruefully at his hands, which were nearly blis- 
tered by this unwonted use of them. 

Shouldn’t wonder if you were right,” said 
Mr. Denny, with a laugh, suddenly coming 
over the hill. ^^Why, Eben, man alive! 
haven’t you found the other hole ?” 

Other one ?” questioned his nephew, in 
surprise. 

^^Why, mostly a woodchuck’s burrow has 
two holes, and it’s just as well to find both 
and stop up one, else he’ll go out at one 
while you dig at the other. Well, never 
mind,” added Mr. Denny, kindly, seeing the 
astonished disappointment on the faces of the 
boys. When you get rather older, you shall 
have a dog and go woodchuck hunting in 
style.” 

I hate to wait for things until I’m grown 
up,” muttered Cecil, with an extremely cross 
look. 

Eben had the same expression at first, but 


16 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

it faded away before his uncle’s good-natured 
words. 

“Better luck another time,” he said; “now 
rest and eat your luncheon, and then you will 
feel better. Here ! I’ll give you a match and 
you may make a fire on some rock. Boys al- 
ways like to make fires, I know — at least 
I did when I was a boy. Only keep clear of 
the fences and be careful.” 

“ We will,” answered the boys, who found 
the idea of a fire quite consoling; so Mr. 
Denny went on his way and they set out to 
get their basket. 

Cecil soon thought he had found just the 
spot for a fire at the opposite side of the 
pasture, on a flat stone that lay near the 
angle formed by two sides of the tall rail 
fence. Eben objected that it was too near 
this same fence for absolute safety, but his 
prudence was overruled by the enthusiasm of 
his friend, and both boys began collecting 
fuel from the edge of the forest. They soon 
had a large heap of brush, and carefully 
applying the match, had the satisfaction of 


A DAY IN THE NORTH WOODS. 17 

seeing the tiny flame creep in among the • dry 
wood and take fast hold on it. 

The “ turnovers and things ” proved ample 
and excellent enough to appease the appetites 
of even two boys, and their gypsy dinner was 
a great success. 

I wonder who lives in that queer little 
house in the field beyond this one ?” said 
Cecil as they sat roasting their apples for 
dessert — a process which rendered the fruit 
smoky and warm on one side and on the 
other cold and hard, but vastly improved its 
flavour to the taste of the boys. 

“I don't know; we might go there and 
ask for a drink of water," said Eben. “I'm 
thirsty, aren't you ?" 

Accordingly, the boys climbed over the 
fence and took their way down the hill to 
the small weather-beaten cottage, whose roof 
sloped on one side nearly to the ground, thus 
causing the curious shape which had attracted 
Cecil's attention. A flaxen-haired lad appar- 
ently rather older than Eben sat in the door 
at work with a slate and pencil, while a child 

2 ’if B 


18 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

about Benjie’s age sprawled on the floor watch- 
ing him. 

^^Can we have a drink of water?” asked 
Cecil, making himself spokesman. 

“Yes,” said the boy, without looking up. 
“ Harney, get a cup.” 

Harney obeyed at once, and brought from 
some room within a shiny tin cup, which Cecil 
took, and then began to look about for the 
water in which to use it. 

“The well is round the corner,” said the 
flaxen-haired boy. “ There ! I’ve finished now, 
and I’ll help you pull up the bucket.” 

“Are you doing your examples?” .asked 
Eben, with a glance at the slate. 

“No, only counting up my profits,” said 
the boy, with a laugh. “I’ve gone into 
trade.” 

“ How ?” asked both the boys. 

“ I mean I’ve been selling nuts down at 
the village, and I was counting up what I’d 
made to see how much more I want before 
there is enough.” 

“Enough for what?” asked Cecil, before 


A DAY IN THE NORTH WOODS. 


19 


he remembered that it was not exactly a polite 
question. 

Some things I want/’ said the lad. Will 
you buy some ?” 

^^We have gathered all we want/’ said 
Cecil, blushing a little. Have you ever so 
many more?” 

Bather a big heap that I hid up in the 
field. Here’s a bucket of water cool as ice 
could make it ; now for the cup !” 

The boys drank their fill, and after talking 
some moments longer departed with such a 
smiling “Grood-bye” from the stranger that 
our impulsive Cecil pronounced him a nice 
boy” as soon as he was out of hearing. 

He looked pretty poor, though,” said 
Eben. ^‘1 wonder if he didn't want to buy 
new clothes with his money? If I hear of 
anybody who wants nuts in the village, I shall 
tell them about him.” 

How, this was very good-natured in Eberi, 
for he had counted on selling a portion of his 
own nuts and devoting the proceeds to pro- 
curing tools to help in his darling occupation 


20 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

of wood-carving. , Cecil knew this, and knew 
too that if he did not get the money in this 
way, it would be slow in coming, since, while 
Eben’s' uncle amply provided him with all 
needful things, he could afford him very little 
pocket-money. 

But any comment on the matter was pre- 
vented by their arrival at the trap, which, 
being examined, was found to contain a fine 
gray squirrel, over which the boys were hold- 
ing joyful consultation when a shout from Mr. 
Denny far down the hill-side bade them hasten 
to join him and turn toward home. 

*‘You go get the luncheon-basket and I 
will carry the trap «along,” said Eben ; and 
Cecil . galloped off at headlong speed, intent 
only on snatching up the article and rejoining 
his friend in the shortest possible time. 

‘‘Did you leave the fire all right?” asked 
Mr. Denny as the boys climbed into the wagon. 

“ Cecil went back,” said Eben. “ He fixed 
it. It’s all right, isn’t it, Cecil ?” 

“ I — I believe so,” replied Cecil, hesitating, 
for he knew he had not thought anything 


A DAY IN THE NORTH WOODS. 21 

about the fire, or even looked to see if it was 
wholly extinguished, and Mr. Denny’s ques- 
tion made him feel rather uncomfortable. 

He consoled himself by the reflection that 
it must have been all right or he would have 
noticed it; he certainly was too tired to go 
back up the hill to see about it. 

The drive home was quickly accomplished, 
and Cecil hastened to tell grandma of all the 
incidents the ‘day had held. But thoughts of 
them were quickly scattered when, after a late 
tea. Uncle Jack walked in. He had accom- 
panied Cecil’s parents on their journey as far 
as a neighbouring town, and the sight of him 
recalled the morning’s parting. 

They loaded me with so many good-byes 
and messages to you, Cecil, that I could hard- 
ly bring them all. The biggest one is in the 
hall, and you had better bring it in,” said 
Uncle Jack. 

Cecil opened the door, wondering what his 
uncle could mean, and in bounced a little 
Skye terrier — as funny, bright, and jolly a 
dog as any little boy could possibly wish to 


22 Cecil’s autumn adventukes. 

own. Fastened to the collar about his neck 
was a small note addressed “ To Cecil.” 

This is what Cecil read in it when he had 
finished his first raptures at this altogether 
delightful surprise : 

Darling: It is my wish that you 
will have many a merry play with the funny 
little bearer of this note. He is a good-bye 
gift from papa and me, with oiir love. We 
hope he will help you to be less lonely, and 
will remind you of the last talk we had to- 
gether and the promises you made to us. Be 
honest, be brave in the right, be generous ; 
and so let me find when I return that my boy 
has used well these weeks of our separation 
and grown upward toward the true Example 
I have tried to teach him to follow. 

“Your Loving Mamma.” 

Cecil read this note a second time just 
before he went to bed and made a very earn- 
est resolve that he would fulfil his mother s 
wish. 


CHAPTER II. 

A DEBATE WITH CONSCIENCE. 

HE race of the Skye terriers is not a 
small one, but that it ever contained 
a brighter, more intelligent specimen 
of doghood than Mop, Cecil doubted 
after spending a morning in making acquaint- 
ance with his new pet. Mop showed at once 
a good disposition to make himself at home 
in his new abode ; after a prolonged investiga- 
tion of his master s appearance, he signified 
his approval of the same by laying his queer 
little nose on CeciTs knee and barking once 
and then licking his hand afiectionately. He 
also submitted to be caressed by the other 
members of the family, and obligingly went 
through with the list of his accomplishments 
at the direction of Uncle Jack, who had as- 
sisted in his selection and knew what he could 
do. Only when introduced to Morgiana did 

23 



24 


CECILS AUTUMN ADVENTUEES. 


he show .any aversion, and he treated that 
staid and respectable cat to such a series of 
sharp, quick barks, accompanied with such 
springs and curvetings of his hairy little 
body, that she fled up to the garret in utter 
confusion, and could not be coaxed down for 
nearly all day. 

Benjie s disgust at this proceeding was ex- 
treme, but Uncle Jack declared that the two 
pets could be taught to be friends with time 
and patience, and that he himself would see 
that poor puss came to no harm through the 
impishness of Master Mop. 

The squirrel whose capture had been of so 
much importance the day before was almost 
disregarded and forgotten; for Eben, who came 
up to the terrace to see how they should 
arrange their joint ownership of him, was as 
delighted with Mop as Cecil himself, and re- 
mained to play with him, leaving poor little 
Bunny unnoticed. 

“ I don’t think Mop is as good a name as I 
should have chosen,” said Cecil, but I don’t 
think it is best to try and change it. I’ll tell 


A DEBATE WITH CONSCIENCE. 


25 


you what, Eben : you shall call him partly 
your dog and own him with me ; only I think 
he must stay here most of the time, instead 
of at the lodge, because my mamma sent him.” 

‘^Well, that’s complete!” agreed Eben, his 
hazel eyes twinkling with pleasure. “And 
I’ll help you teach him lots of new tricks, and 
he’ll be just the ’cutest little dog in the State, 
I’ll bet you.” 

“ And the happiest little dog too, I hope,” 
suggested grandma. “ I shall expect to see 
you considerate of Mop’s feelings as well as 
of your own wishes.” 

“Why, of course we shall be kind to him,” 
rather hurt at the idea of anything else being 
possible. 

“ I trust so, my dear,” said grandma — “ at 
least you will mean to be. But I wanted to 
suggest to your mind that if somebody should 
set out to make you the smartest little hoys 
in the State, you might not find the process 
wholly pleasing.” 

The boys laughed at this remark, but it had 
the effect grandma intended — of making them 
3 


26 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

resolve not to give Mop too much and too 
impatient teaching. 

For, you know,” said Cecil, privately, to 
his friend, “ I do not suppose a dog likes to be 
always learning lessons any better than we 
should.” 

In spite of the fascinations of Mop, the usual 
day’s duties must not be neglected; so pres- 
ently Eben went home and Cecil sat down to 
his books. It was rather hard to fix his mind 
on work, but he made a brave efibrt, and got 
through his arithmetic lesson so well that 
grandma let him read from a book called 
“Anecdotes of Sagacious Animals,” and set 
him to write the copy, “ ‘ / will ’ makes three 
steps toward ^ I have done "'' — a maxim which 
Cecil wrote with great pride and care in his 
very best hand. 

In the evening Uncle Jack was noticed to 
look rather grave, and after sitting for some 
time quite silent he suddenly said, “Cecil!” 
in a tone that was not quite like his usual 
merry one. 

“What, sir?” answered his nephew. 


A DEBATE WITH CONSCIENCE. 27 

What did you do at the North woods yes- 
terday ?” inquired Uncle Jack. 

Why, we dug for a woodchuck, and — and 
caught a squirrel, and — lots of things,” said 
Cecil, who was teaching Mop to balance a bit 
of bread on his nose and did not feel like be- 
ing interrupted. 

What else ?” pursued Uncle Jack. 

We had our dinner, and got some water at 
a house, and Eben tore his jacket on the fence, 
and I lost my knife. We did plenty of things : 
I told grandma about them,” said Cecil, a trifle 
impatiently. 

Now I want you to tell me,” said his un- 
cle. ^^Come and stand here. You made a 
fire and roasted some apples, didn’t you ?” 

“Yes, sir,” said Cecil. 

“ And how did you extinguish it when you 
had finished eating ? Did you or Eben man- 
age that part of it?” asked Uncle Jack. 

“ Why, we — we just left it, I guess, when 
we went for the water. Then Mr. Denny 
asked if it was all right, and I thought it 


was. 


28 Cecil's autumn adventures. 

Did you look to see ?” 

N-o-o, not particularly,” said Cecil, slowly. 

What do you mean, Uncle Jack?” 

I mean that your fire in the pasture was 
not properly taken care of, and that by its 
means several rods of the pasture fence were 
burned up and more mischief was near being 
done. Mr. Plummer came to see about it to- 
day. It made him a great deal of trouble,” 
said Uncle Jack, gravely. 

Oh dear 1” sighed Cecil, feeling almost 
ready to cry at this ill news. 

Also there was a poor boy living near by 
who is trying to earn money by selling nuts, 
so that he can pay for his winter's schooling. 
He had hidden a large heap of nuts in the 
corner of the fence, and they were burned 
too.” 

^‘That's the very boy we talked with, I 
shouldn't wonder,” said Cecil. ^‘What was 
his name ?” 

“Larry Holbrook, I believe,” said Uncle 
Jack. “ It was quite a loss to him, of 


course. 


A DEBATE WITH CONSCIENCE. 29 

He was ratKer careless to leave them out 
in that way, I think," said Cecil. 

^^You were rather careless to build your 
fire so near the fence, I think," said Uncle 
Jack, with a little smile. ^‘Didn’t any one 
caution you about that ?" 

^^Yes," said Cecil, slowly; “Mr. Denny 
did, and we said we’d take care. I — I — well, 
the fact is. Uncle Jack, I wanted to put the 
fire where we did, and Ebon said it was too 
^near. But I thought I knew as well as he 
*did." 

“ I’m glad you are honest," said Mr. Burney, 
smoothing his nephew’s curls. “ I found Mr. 
Denny about to punish Eben for being so 
careless, but I asked him to wait, for there 
were two boys concerned in the matter, and I 
thought both ought to share the punishment." 

“What is my punishment to be?" asked 
Cecil, after a little silence. 

“I don’t know that I shall inflict any 
penalty," answered Uncle Jack. “By your 
account, you wej;e both careless in building 
the fire, and you, Cecil, were the most so. 

3 * 


30 


CECILS AUTUMN ADVENTURES. 


Also, you were not quite honest in not telling 
Mr. Denny that you didn’t examine the fire 
when he asked you about it. If you had, he 
would have sent you back to see about it, and 
all this trouble would have been saved.” 

“ I was dreadfully tired,” murmured Cecil. 

“ Mr. Plummer was tired after his day’s 
labour, I presume,” said Uncle Jack, but 
he had to go to work and fight fire to prevent 
other things besides his fence from burning 
up. We have had so little rain that the rails 
were very dry and burned rapidly after they 
once took fire.” 

I’m very sorry, Uncle Jack, and I 
know I’ deserve something for being so care- 
less. You might put me to bed for all day, 
perhaps, or give me some hard task to do,” 
said Cecil, rather dolefully. I think I 
should remember to be careful another time 
without any punishment, but I suppose I 
ought to have one.” 

Uncle Jack could not forbear laughing at 
the candid speech of his nepjiew. 

But I don’t see that putting you to bed 


A DEBATE WITH CONSCIENCE. 


31 


will help the matter any,” said he. I know 
this will be a lesson to you to be careful, 
especially about fire, and perhaps about other 
things too. But there are two people who 
have suffered because of you, and the damage 
you caused isn’t mended in any way. That 
is the point, I think. What are you going 
to do about it? Do you think just being 
sorry is enough ?” 

I don’t know,” answered Cecil, in a ve|-y 
hesitating tone, for he began to understand 
where Uncle Jack was leading him, and did 
not feel well pleased at the prospect. “ Eben 
and I can’t make a fence very well ; and any- 
how, Mr. Plummer is a man, and we are only 
boys.” 

‘^Boys can act justly, I suppose,” suggested 
Uncle Jack. “Well, I’m not going to talk 
any more about it. I have said all I wish, 
and you may think the matter over ; if think- 
ing about it gives you any new ideas on the 
subject, you may report them to me any time 
to-morrow.” 

So saying. Uncle Jack patted his nephew’s 


32 Cecil's autumn adventures. 


curls once more; and rising from his chair, 
he whistled to Mop and began a frolic with 
that ready little dog. 

It is certainly a fact, if not an altogether 
praiseworthy one, that Cecil hastened to bed 
w^hen the hour came with as much speed as 
possible, composing himself to sleep at once 
and driving away all thoughts that tried to 
bus]^ his mind. And he hoped, too, that he 
should not wake up next morning until just 
in time for breakfast. But somehow this last 
hope was not fulfilled, and even earlier than 
his habit Cecil's eyes opened to the gray 
morning light, and in a twinkling he was 
wide awake, body and mind. 

^^Oh dear!" sighed Cecil to himself as he 
turned on his pillow. ‘‘Now I've got to think 
it over." 

And so there began a debate in the boy's 
mind on the subject he had tried so hard to 
forget. 

“ Well," thought Cecil, “there's that boy's 
nuts. I suppose I ought to give him those 
I have gathered. I wonder how many he 


A DEBATE WITH CONSCIENCE. 


33 


had ? I 'most know it will take all mine, and 
I do want 'em myself to crack in the winter 
evenings, and make candy with, and give to 
Sylvie Deane. Eben ought to give part ; he 
was somQ to blame. He knew more about 
fires than I did, and he ought not to have 
let me build it there if I did want to. Hm ! 
I don't think much of this business." 

Cecil shut his eyes closely and lay very 
still for a few moments, but it was of no use ; 
sleep would not come back to him. 

^^And the fence!" he burst out again, 
suddenly. ‘^1 wonder if Uncle Jack thinks 
we ought to pay the man for that ? I don't 
see how we can. We are only boys, and I'm 
sure that man has more money than we have. 
Besides, I'm saving all mine for Christmas, 
and I shouldn’t have enough, any way. 
Bother I" 

Here Cecil stopped and relieved his feelings 
by kicking the bedclothes violently. Then he 
grew quiet, and something seemed to whisper 
the words . his mother had written : Be 
honest.” 

c 


34 Cecil's autumn adventuees. 

said Cecil, ‘‘1 s’pose it wasn’t 
very honest in me not to tell Mr. Denny 
I hadn’t looked at the fire, and I know it 
is honest for folks to pay for things when 
they spoil ’em. Hm ! I always thought it 
was easy enough to he honest: I guess it 
isn’t.” 

‘^Be generous,” whispered the little voice 
again. 

Well, that would be to not let Eben give 
any of his nuts, because he wants to sell 
them, and I have more things than he does 
all the time. Oh dear ! I ’most wish mamma 
wasn’t so particular to have me an extra good 
boy. I’d rather be only half good — at least, 
that is easiest,” groaned poor little Cecil, 
with a sound that was partly a laugh and 
partly a sob. 

When grandma looked into the room some- 
what later, he was lying on his face, and she 
could see only the back of his curly head. 
Thinking him asleep, she was about to close 
the door, when Cecil’s voice sounded from 
somewhere under the curls : 


A DEBATE WITH CONSCIENCE. 35 

“ Grandma dear !’' 

'' What, my pet ?” asked grandma, coming 
to the bedside. 

“ Grandma, when people do harm and don’t 
mean to, do you think it is just as bad as if 
they went and did it on purpose ? ” quavered 
the voice. 

“ No, of course not,” said grandma, cheer- 
fully. 

Then,” said Cecil, bringing one cheek 
around to view — then if they don’t mean to 
do it, do you think they ought to — to pay 
for it?” 

“ Do you mean if they do it from careless- 
ness and not from wilfulness ?” asked grandma, 
with the least bit of a smile on her lips. 

Yes m,” answered Cecil. 

“ Then this is what I think,” said grandma : 
‘‘ we really haven’t any right to be careless — 
carelessness is a fault. If I take Benjie to 
walk, and then neglect him, so that he falls 
in the water and is drowned, I’m not so 
wicked as if I pushed him in, of course, but 
I am to blame for not being careful of such 


36 CECIL’S AUTUMN ADVENTUEES. 

a tiny child. If my carelessness injures other 
people, I am wrong, and ought to pay the 
penalty, because it is certainly my duty not 
to be careless. That is one of the faults I 
must be on my guard against. Jane set the 
muffins to raise last night, and then left the 
door open, so that Morgiana got in and upset 
the pan on the floor. She did not mean to 
do it, but I don’t think you and I would like 
it very well if she gave us nothing for break- 
fast. "We should say she ought to atone for 
her carelessness by making egg-cake for us 
to eat.” 

Grandma said this with such a cheery voice 
that Cecil could not help laughing, and then 
she kissed him and left him to dress, saying 
that the cakes would be ready as soon as ho 
was. 

Cecil plunged his curly head into the cool 
water, feeling, for some reason, vastly happier 
than he did when he first opened his eyes 
half an hour ago. 

Breakfast was earlier at the lodge than 
at the terrace; so when Cecil was ready to 


A DEBATE WITH CONSCIENCE. 37 

go out of doors, he found Eben already wait- 
ing for him on the piazza steps. 

^‘Do you know about it?” was Cecil’s ques- 
tion as soon as he saw his friend. 

Should think I did !” was Eben’s prompt 
reply. “ My land ! Uncle Denny was just as 
mad as sixty. He said I ought to have known 
better ; and that is a fact. I expected to get 
well punished, but Mr. Burney came along. 
I did feel ashamed to think I didn’t do better 
and attend to things.” 

^^But I wanted to have the fire where it 
was, and you didn’t,” said Cecil, helped in 
his efibrt to be generous by Eben’s ready 
taking up of the whole blame. 

I saw all those leaves in that corner ; 
didn’t you?” continued Eben. suppose 
they covered that boy’s nuts. Wasn’t it queer 
in him to leave ’em out so ? Only he hadn’t 
any good place to store them.” 

1 shall give him my nuts to make up,” 
said Cecil, soberly. ^‘1 was more to blame 
than you, and I ought to pay the most.” 

My land ! I guess I see myself letting 

4 


38 Cecil’s autumn adventuees. 

you do that I” cried Eben, flushing to the 
roots of his red hair at the idea. 

Whereupon the boys entered on a discus- 
sion which lasted some time, but ended in 
their seeking Uncle Jack with one mind. 

Well?” said he as they came to his side; 
and Uncle Jacks eyes had a sly gleam in 
them that showed something amused him. 

We want to pay for what we did — up in 
the field, you know,” said Cecil — “ that is, if 
we can pay for it all. We will give Larry 
Holbrook as many nuts back as he lost, and 
pay Mr. Plummer for the fence as far as our 
money will go. We can make out a dollar 
and a half both together.” 

In spite of his resolution, a little sigh 
escaped Cecil at the last words. 

^‘Well done!” said Uncle Jack. ^^You 
will make men, I see.” 

And to the great delight of the lads, he 
shook hands with them both as gravely as 
if they had indeed been grown up. Then he 
agreed to take them both to see Mr. Plummer 
in the afternoon. 


CHAPTER III. 

AN EXPEDITION TO PENNYVILLE. 

ARRY HOLBROOK thankfully re- 
ceived the nuts which the boys carried 
him in payment for the loss their care- 
lessness had occasioned; and they be- 
came quite well acquainted with him dur- 
ing their call. He was making a brave 
struggle against poverty, for his father was 
dead ; and besides Larry and the small Harney, 
there were four other little Holbrooks to be 
fed and clothed by the widowed mother; so 
Larry’s share of the burden was not light. 

Selling berries and nuts brings in some- 
thing, and is better than no help at all,” he 
confessed to Eben. But I want to get some 
more learning, and then I shall be fit to get 
me a trade. Mr. Jones thinks he’ll take me 
into his shop by another year; and then by 

39 



40 Cecil’s autumn adventuees. 

and by I shall earn enough to support the 
whole.” 

Come to Elm Terrace next time you 
are at the village, and my uncle Jack will 
lend you some books if you want any to help 
you,” said Cecil, who was filled with admira- 
tion at what he called Larry’s “pluck.” 

“ I'm getting on pretty well by myself and 
what teaching mother gives me,” said Larry, 
sturdily. “ If you wanted to lend any picture- 
books to Susie, I should like that, and I am 
sure she would like to have them. She’s sick 
’most all the time, and don’t have much to 
look at.” 

Cecil assented to this proposal gladly, for 
he pitied the pale, patient-looking little girl ; 
and then Uncle Jack took the lads to see Mr. 
Plummer and settle affairs with him. 

They found him at work in one of his 
barns — a large, black-bearded man who turned 
to meet them silently, chewing all the time 
on a bit of straw that Cecil certainly thought 
would choke him. 

“ Here are two young men who have some 


AN EXPEDITION TO PENNYVILLE. 41 

business with you, Mr, Plummer,” said Uncle 
Jack, presenting the boys. 

If you please, sir,” said Cecil, rather 
timidly — “ if you please, we want to see 
about paying for your fence.” 

“So you are the youngsters that tried to 
burn me out, eh?” said Mr. Plummer, with 
a bite at the end of the straw. 

“We let your fence get on fire, but we 
didn’t go to do it,” said Eben. “ I was real 
careless, but ’twasn’t on purpose.” 

“And all our money makes a dollar and 
a half,” added Cecil. “Will it be enough 
to repair the damage done by the fire? We 
haven’t any more, though.” 

“ Rail fences aren’t so costly as some things, 
that’s a fact,” said the farmer. “ And so you 
want to pay for the damage ?” 

“ We think we ought to; it’s honest to do 
it, anyhow,” said Cecil, holding up the small 
wallet containing the cherished pocket-money 
of himself and his friend. 

The farmer took it, looked at it, turned 
it over, and handed it back. 


42 Cecil’s autumn adventuees. 

rather not take your money, boys,” 
he said. “ Let’s fix it another way.” 

How ?” asked Eben and Cecil at once. 

‘‘Well, you see, this fence business is a 
bother, that’s a fact. ’Tisn’t the cost of the 
rails, but I’m very busy this week, and will 
have to take a man off work here at the barn 
and set him to patch that up. Now, how’ll 
it be for you two youngsters to come up and 
work for me a forenoon ? — help me sort apples, 
or some such thing as he’d be doing if he 
hadn’t to make fence? Then I will call it 
square all round. Does that suit ?” said Mr. 
Plummer, very gravely. 

“ My land ! I just guess it does !” ex- 
claimed Eben, who was first to find his 
tongue. “ Don’t it, Cecil ?” 

“Yes, indeed,” said Cecil; and he felt so 
much like standing on his head for joy that 
he gave a little caper where he stood. 

“ Then it’s a bargain,” said Mr. Plummer. 
“ And I think well of your pluck, and better 
of your honesty.” 

So the matter was settled, and the next 


AN EXPEDITION TO PENNYVILLE. 43 

day Mr. Denny carried the boys to the farm 
again, and there they worked all the morning, 
sorting apples for market under the direction 
of Mr. Plummer and one of his sons. 

It was real labour, and the boys’ arms and 
backs grew lame and weary, but they worked 
faithfully and with a cheerful spirit, until at 
three o’clock they were dismissed with cordial 
words from the farmer and their pockets filled 
with golden pippins. 

And we have had four good rides out of 
the scrape,” said Eben as they drove home. 
“ I think we have got out of trouble pretty 
well this time.” 

‘‘So do I,” assented Cecil. “It was the 
best thing for us that Mr. Plummer wanted 
our work instead of our money, wasn’t it? 
But my back does feel as if it had a hinge 
in it.” 

The autumn days passed swiftly by; the 
last bright leaves fell one by one from the 
trees ; the garden was a brown wilderness 
of withered stalks and leafless shrubs, and 
the autumn rains began to come with such 


44 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

frequency and power that Eben declared his 
belief that they were having at least a dozen 
“ equinoctials ” one after the other. 

It was one dull, cool day, when the clouds 
seemed to have settled over the sky in a kind 
of gray sullenness, as if they wouldn’t trouble 
themselves to rain, but didn’t mean to let the 
sun have a chance at the earth, when Uncle 
Jack came into the house and sought grandma 
in the cheerful library, where she was usually 
to be found of afternoons. 

^^Do you think you can get along without 
me for a few days, mother mine ?” said he. 

“ Why, yes. Jack,” said grandma, pushing 
up her spectacles to look at her son. Is 
anything particular the matter?” 

^‘I want to go up to Penny ville,” said 
Uncle Jack. These late heavy rains have 
been making havoc all about there, and I 
suspect I ought to look after the mills. I can 
take Bayard in the light wagon and drive up 
to-morrow, and be back by the third day, I 
presume.” 

Oh, Uncle Jack !” said Cecil, very eagerly. 


AN EXPEDITION TO PENNYVILLE. 45 

dropping his book suddenly and springing 
from his chair. 

“Well?" said Uncle Jack. 

“ May I — won’t you — can’t I go too ? You 
told me once I might go to Pennyville some 
time, and I never have been yet. I want to 
see the mills and everything. Do please say 
^ yes !”’ cried Cecil, tumbling the words one 
over the other in his excitement. 

“Then who will take care of grandma?" 
asked Mr. Burney. 

“I guess she can get along; can’t you, 
grand«ia ?’’ replied Cecil, turning such plead- 
ing eyes toward the dear old lady that she 
kissed him at once and declared he need by 
no means stay on her account. 

“There’s another thing," said Uncle Jack : 
“ the roads are not in very good condition ; 
and if I take you, we two shall not balance 
the wagon evenly, which will be bad for the 
springs." 

“Oh,” said Cecil, “if that is all, you can 
take Eben too, and that will make a good 
load to balance." 


46 Cecil’s autumn adventuees. 

“ So you think the heavier a load is, the 
better it is for the ■wagon ?” said his uncle, 
pretending to look dissatisfied. ^‘Well, I 
think I will take you — ^that is, if you can 
tell me how many Skye terriers will reach 
from here to Pennyville if each dog is a 
yard long and every dog’s nose touches the 
next one’s tail.” 

“ Just as many dogs as there are yards in 
twenty-three miles,” answered Cecil, trium- 
phantly. “ And how many that is I can find 
out with a pencil. Only if they were all as 
wriggly as Mop, they wouldn’t make at very 
easy measuring string. May we really go, 
then ? Oh, you dear, jolly Uncle Jack !” 

Cecil went frisking about the room in his 
joy until grandma turned him out of doors 
to expend his force in racing down to tell 
Eben of the promised expedition. But though 
Mrs. Denny received him graciously, and gave 
no denial to the news he brought, she refused 
to let him see Eben, who was put to bed for 
the afternoon as a penalty for some fault he 
had committed. 


AN EXPEDITION TO PENNYVILLE. 47 

Hasn’t he been there long enough to be 
forgiven, Mrs. Denny ?” pleaded Cecil, long- 
ing for the release of his playmate to be 
granted. 

Hot he ; and he’ll have to walk sharp, or 
he can’t be allowed to go with you at all,” 
replied Eben’s aunt, decidedly. 

I can’t walk anyhow, as long as you keep 
me stretched out here in bed, Aunt Celindy,” 
called Eben through the half-open door of the 
bedroom. But I won’t never try any more 
'speriments in your best china teapot, nor 
take the lamp chimney to make a battery 
of again.” 

^^You had better not,” retorted his aunt. 
“1 wish you had never heard about your 
steam and your chemistry, and such nonsense. 
Kun away, Cecil; I suppose he can go to 
Pennyville if he behaves when to-morrow 
comes.” 

^^And I will behave real hard,” added 
Eben ; so with this consolation his friend 
was forced to be content, and went back to 
the terrace eating a slice of Mrs. Denny’s 


48 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

warm gingerbread and wondering what mis- 
chief Eben could have done this time. 

Whatever it was, he was not prevented 
from appearing next morning at the terrace 
as merry, as rosy, and as brisk as if no such 
things as punishments were numbered among 
his experiences, bringing in his hand a very 
small, neatly-packed hand-bag, and revolving 
in his mind his aunt’s parting advice : 

Hold up your head and remember . your 
manners ; don’t make anybody any trouble 
that you can avoid, and help other folks as 
much as you can. You’re to mind Mr. 
Burney the same as Cecil does, and be sure 
not to lose all your handkerchiefs before you 
get back.” 

Isn’t it jolly ?” said Cecil, running down 
the steps to meet him. “I’ve been up ever 
since five o’clock, and Uncle Jack threatened 
to lock me up in the icehouse if I didn’t keep 
stiller. There comes the wagon around to 
the door. If Uncle Jack would only let us 
drive Bayard part of the time, I should be 
perfectly happy.” 


AN EXPEDITION TO PENNYVILLE. 49 


But this Uii^cle Jack would not do, though 
in all other ways he made the ride as pleasant 
as possible. The day was cool and cloudy; 
but the boys felt sunshine if they could not 
see it. They chattered and laughed, sang 
and told stories; and when a sudden heavy 
shower came down on them, and there was 
no house in sight wherein to seek shelter, 
the boys esteemed it only fun ” to creep 
close together under the large rubber cape Un- 
cle Jack had provided for such an emergency. 

The roads were not in excellent order, 
owing to the storms which had been prevail- 
ing, and they had several of what Cecil 
delighted to call adventures, in crossing places 
deeply washed out by rain, or in going around 
large stones that had been rolled down into 
the road. Once Uncle Jack himself was 
rather at a loss what to do when they came 
where a little bridge had been broken and 
partly torn away. It was Eben who had the 
glory of suggesting its reconstruction by 
means of rails from the neighbouring fence, 
and both boys worked to such purpose that 
5 D 


50 Cecil’s autumn adventuees. 

Mr. Burney declared a grown man could not 
have been more helpful. 

Then I think you must he glad I coaxed 
you to let us come,” said Cecil, importantly, 
as they resumed their journey. 

“We haven’t reached the end yet,” replied 
Uncle Jack, with a comical glance. “ How 
can I tell if you will continue such helpful 
companions ?” 

“Wait and see if we don’t,” said his 
nephew, with great confidence, inwardly re- 
solving that no boy should be more well be- 
haved and manly than himself during the 
next three days. 

Penny ville was not a large town : it was 
not much of a village, even. Its houses 
were scattered along the sides of a somewhat 
long and narrow valley, clustering in one 
place more closely together around the post- 
office and several stores, then rambling here 
and there, dotting the landscape, in the direc- 
tion of two large mills which stood on the 
bank of the river. The river itself was 
nothing remarkable in size, and wound its 


AK EXPEDITION TO PENNYVILLE. 51 

way tlirougli the valley soberly enough, while 
on both sides of Pennyville rose steep hills, 
and yet steeper mountains. 

“ There is no comfortable hotel here,” said 
Uncle Jack, in answer to a question from 
Cecil. I am going to take you to the house 
of a man I know very well, and who is con- 
nected with the mills I want to see about. 
Here we are now.” 

So saying. Uncle Jack reined up Bayard, 
and greeted a tall, dark man who walked 
with a peculiar limping gait, and was followed 
by a very large black Newfoundland dog. 

Good-evening, Mr. Burney ; glad to see 
you, sir. I have been thinking this weather 
would bring you along to look after us,” said 
the man, whom Uncle Jack proceeded to in- 
troduce to the boys as Mr. Keep, and who 
greeted them very kindly. 

“ Come in, come in,” said Mr. Keep. “ You 
will find a welcome, and, what’s more to the 
point, I fancy, a supper too.” 

“ I am hungr}^ that’s true enough,” whis- 
pered Cecil to Eben as they alighted. ^‘1 


52 CECIL’S AUTUMN ADVENTUKES. 

'most feel as if I could do what nurse says, 
and eat a peck of nails.” 

“ Better not try it,” returned Eben. “ What 
a great noble fellow that dog is ! I do hope 
he’ll let us play with him.” 

Mr. Keep’s house was a small, low cottage, 
standing on a street which lay at right angles 
from the main one of the village and led 
down toward the river and the long covered 
bridge. A pleasant-faced woman welcomed 
our travellers and ushered them into a cosy 
room lighted and warmed by an open fire, 
near which sat an aged w’oman in cap and 
spectacles, while a round, rosy baby crept 
about on the floor at her feet. A little girl 
with her hair braided and tied in two funny 
little knobs at her temples, and wearing a 
necklace of large yellow beads around her 
plump neck, was also in the room, but she 
seemed shy, and hid behind the old lady’s 
chair when Cecil smiled at her. 

The supper which Mr. Keep had promised 
was soon ready ; and what a good supper it 
was !' 


AN EXPEDITION TO PENNYVILLE. 53 

When it was over, and everybody drew 
around the bright fire, the significant glances 
exchanged by the boys showed that so far 
they considered Pennyville very pleasant in- 
deed. The old lady was called Grandma 
Hausen ” by all the family, and the little girl 
possessed the rather long name of Laura 
Angeline, which was always spoken in full 
by her mother. The black dog made one of 
the circle, and permitted himself to be patted 
and praised without stint by the guests; he 
rejoiced in the name of Lion,” which was con- 
sidered extremely appropriate to him by the 
boys. 

He’s just as gentle as can be, and lets me 
ride the baby on his back and tease him all 
I want to,” said Laura Angeline, who was 
beginning to feel quite well acquainted with 
the strangers. '‘But he can be just the 
fiercest dog you ever saw, and he’s strong; 
oh, strong as a real lion, ’most.” 

" I never saw such a large dog,” said Cecil. 
" His back reaches about as high as the table, 
I should think. Can he do any tricks ?’.’ 

5 * 


54 : Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

He can do sometliing better than tricks/’ 
said Mr. Keep. He can save a man’s life.” 

How ? Do tell us about it/’ begged the 
boys. 

So Mr. Keep complied, and the children 
gathered about his knee, and Uncle Jack also 
prepared to listen. 

“ It was nearly five years ago, before I had 
anything to do with the mills — before one of 
them was built, in fact,” said Mr. Keep. “ The 
big bridge you sav;- down the road was not 
standing then, either. In its place we had 
one much lighter and not so strong. There 
came up one of our freshets, such as we some- 
times get here; it was rather the worst we 
ever had, I think. Folks began to fear the 
bridge wouldn’t stand it, the water was so 
high. And still it rained and the water grew 
higher, until it seemed as if the bridge must 
give way pretty soon. 

^‘By and by a considerable crowd of us 
were gathered down at the edge of the water 
watching the bridge. A good many were 
paddling around in boats, and the widow 


AN EXPEDITION TO PENNYVILLE. 55 

Parton’s son had got hold of a little skiff 
and was rowing around alone. He wasn’t 
very bright — in fact, people called him more 
than a quarter foolish ; and he never ought to 
have been allowed to touch a pair of oars. 
However, he got at them before any one knew 
it, and presently he got talking with some 
boys and daring them to one thing and 
another, until finally that fellow rowed right 
off to the bridge, helped by the current, which 
was pretty strong; and if you’ll believe me, 
we saw him try to climb up on the bridge 
itself. And of course — poor foolish fellow ! — 
he never thought o'f his boat ; so when he got 
fairly hold of the framework to climb up, the 
boat went drifting off down stream, and there 
he was.” 

What did he do ? Did he drown ?” asked 
Cecil, excitedly. 

^^Well, there he was, a-clinging to the 
timbers, and there we were, expecting every 
minute the bridge might go, from the pressure 
of the waters. However, some of us went 
out in a couple of boats, and we managed to 


66 Cecil’s autumn adventuees. 

get him off. But I was the last one to get 
away from the bridge, and just at that minute 
one end of it broke loose, and away it went. 
I clung hold of a plank or a timber or some* 
thing. I never rightly remembered all about 
those few minutes — they were considerable 
hard ones; but another bit of wood struck 
my legs, and of course that finished me as far 
as knowing anything was concerned. People 
said I went whirling down the current along 
with the planks, blit Lion here plunged in 
and towed me ashore. It was a hard fight 
for him ; he couldn’t have done it if he wasn’t 
about as strong as a horse*. But he did, and 
got me to land with the breath pretty nearly 
knocked out of us both. That’s what gave 
me this twist in my leg.” 

Eben drew a long breath as the story was 
ended, while Cecil impulsively hugged the 
noble dog and pressed his face against Lion’s 
black curls. 

^'Tell us some more about him, please?” 
asked Eben, after a pause. 

‘‘It’s rather late now for telling any more,” 


AN EXPEDITION TO PENNYVILLE. 57 

said Mr. Keep. To-morrow Angie can tell 
you any amount of his doings.” 

So saying, Mr. Keep lifted a large book 
from the shelf near the clock and began 
family worship. It was a very brief exercise, 
but the boys listened to every word of the 
earnest prayer, and particularly enjoyed the 
simple hymn, in which even Angie joined, 
singing in a clear little voice that Cecil thought 
exceedingly pretty. 

Then Mrs. Keep took the boys up stairs 
to a little low chamber in which the wall 
sloped down on one side nearly to the head 
of the neat white bed, and where there was 
a picture on the wall of Angie as a very little 
girl in a pink frock and blue shoes, and with 
short little curls in place of the funny braids 
on her temples. 

In the midst of a discussion on the story 
they had heard the boys suddenly fell fast 
asleep, and so Uncle Jack found them when, 
a little later, he looked in on his way to his 


own room. 


CHAPTER IV. 

THE FLOOD. 

BEN, Eben, are you awake ?" said Cecil 
very early the next mornings looking 
over to the pillow where his friend’s 
red hair was glowing in the first 
dawning light. 

“ What ? ” returned Eben, drowsily. 

Awake ? No, not exactly.” 

^‘Do wake all up, then,” said Cecil. 
want to talk. Don’t you hear that noise on 
the roof ? Do you know what it means ?” 

“ Rain, I s’pose,” replied Eben, turning 
over and rubbing his eyes. “Sa)^ Cecil, 
what if there should be a freshet while we 
are here ?” 

“ Uncle Jack said the river was very high 
already, so perhaps there will be one. I was 
thinking that if it rains all day he won’t let 

us go ’round out-doors with him. Though, 
68 



THE FLOOD. 


59 


to be sure, we have both brought our rubber 
boots,” added Cecil, as if he found that a 
comforting reflection. 

“ I s'pose we could have a pretty good time 
in the house with Lion and that little girl; 
but it wouldn’t be so complete, I know,” 
answered Eben. Do you think she’s pretty ?” 

^^Not so extra — not like Sylvie Deane,” 
replied Cecil, thoughtfully. Sylvie is the 
prettiest girl there is. But I like Angie, and 
I mean to ask her to tell us some more stories 
about Lion. Isn’t he splendid ? Which should 
you like best, Eben — a dog like him or one 
like Mop?” 

I suppose I should like the one I had 
best,” said Eben, with calm philosophy. '‘There 
wouldn’t be any use in liking the other kind, 
as I see.” 

"I should like to have both kinds,” said 
Cecil, decidedly. "But then I don’t ever 
expect to — that is, until I am a man. At 
any rate, you can like things that you don’t 
have without hurting anybody, I suppose.” 

"Well, yes, if liking and wanting what 


60 CECIL’S AUTUMN ADVENTURES. 

other folks have don’t keep you from having 
a good time with your own things,”, assented 
Eben. “Aunt Celindy says people ought to 
be contented with what God gives them, and 
so I try to be ; only if I can contrive a good 
way to get some more things that I want 
and haven’t got, I just do it.” 

“But you couldn’t contrive a way if God 
wasn’t willing for you to have them,” rejoined 
Cecil. 

“ Of course ; but some people seem as if 
they’d never try for anything if it didn’t fall 
right into their hands, and they call that 
being contented. That isn’t my way, I know,” 
remarked Eben, with a great deal of energy. 
“ Come, let’s get up.” 

In view of the rubber boats. Uncle Jack 
did consent that the boys should accompany 
him in his out-door explorations, although the 
rain continued to fall steadily throughout the 
day. So during the forenoon they splashed 
about in the wake of Mr. Keep and Uncle 
Jack, inspecting the mills and taking observa- 
tions up and down the valley. It had rained 


THE FLOOD. 


61 


all night, and there was already what the 
boys called quite a respectable freshet; the 
water covered all the low intervale-land lying 
along the river, and had even overflowed a 
portion of what in Pennyville was called the 
lower road,” the same on which Mr. Keep s 
house stood. The garden adjoining it was 
partly under the water, though the house was 
still some distance above it, and Angie pointed 
out to the boys a tree in the garden which 
marked the highest limit a freshet had been 
known to reach. They thought it must he 
rather nice to live where yearly inundations 
were the rule, but Angie did not agree with 
them. It came too near, she said, and she 
was always afraid. 

^^Poh!” said Cecil. shouldn’t be, I 

know. I should ’most like to have it come 
up, so as to be a little dangerous, and then 
rescue somebody, as your father did.” 

“ I rather think you wouldn’t like to come 
out of it with a lame leg, as he did,” remarked 
Eben, dryly; and Laura Angeline entirely 
agreed with him. 


62 CECIL'S AUTUMN ADVENTUEES. 

After dinner the boys were told to remain 
in the bouse and find their enjoyment there, 
and in this situation Lion was invaluable. He 
submitted to assist in all the plays which the 
children could devise. He was a bear in a 
den of chairs, and captured with much bravery 
by the boys; he was a real caged lion, and 
Eben acted as Van Amburgh, with Cecil, 
Angie, and the baby for audience ; he growled 
a trifle at an attempt to insert Eben’s red 
head between his powerful jaws, and Mrs. 
Keep interfered at this point in the game. 
Then he was a horse for all the party, and 
gave each one a ride three times around the 
room on his back, after which everybody 
subsided on the floor near the fire,- and Angie 
related the wonderful deeds of Lion’s prowess. 
She told how he once captured a thief who 
tried to steal her father’s horse and lead him 
from the stable, and how, when a crowd of 
cruel boys were tormenting a little stray dog. 
Lion had rushed, barking and leaping, among 
them, and scattering them, picked up the 
abused little creature by the nape of the neck 


THE FLOOD. 


63 


as a cat carries her kittens and trotted com- 
posedly home to lay it at the feet of his 
mistress. 

But I think the best thing was about the 
fire/’ added Angie. ‘‘ That was not long ago. 
Mother left him alone here with the baby 
asleep in the cradle while she went to do 
some work up stairs. Grandma Hausen and 
I were away. A great coal snapped out on 
the floor pretty near the cradle. There was 
a heap of cloth close by that mother had left 
there — she was getting it together to braid a 
mat — and the coal set it on fire a little. Lion 
saw it begin to smoke, and he began to bark ; 
mother heard him, and then heard a kind of 
a crash, so she came in a hurry. What do 
you think he had done? A pail of water 
was on the shelf, and he just jumped up and 
tumbled it down ; so when mother opened the 
door, there was the water all over the floor 
and Lion barking with all his might at a little 
smoke that came from a corner of the cloth 
that didn’t get wet : when she put it out he 
was quiet enough. So if it hadn’t been for 


64 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

that, the baby might have been burned up, 
and the house too.” 

Angie pounced on her small brother as she 
ended, and kissed him vigorously, while baby 
crowed and jumped as if he remembered all 
about it ; and the boys agreed that Lion was 
in truth the most praiseworthy of dogs. 

By this time it was twilight, and the en- 
trance of Uncle Jack and Mr. Keep put an 
end to further story-telling, as every one was 
anxious to hear their report of the flood, the 
damage it had done, and might still be ex- 
pected to do. 

The waters had never been known to rise 
so high ; fields which had hitherto been 
esteemed above any possible line of overflow 
were now submerged, and as yet there was 
no abating of the steadily-rising flood. 

'‘We must give up the west mill and the 
big bridge, I am afraid,” said Mr. Keep. 
“ I’ve never seen anything to compare with 
this in my day ; and if the dam at the upper 
end of the valley breaks, I don’t see where 
things will stop.” 


THE FLOOD. 65 

Oh, father!" said Angie, looking ready 
to cry. 

Don't worry, dear,” said Mr. Keep. 

Father’s daughter will be taken care of. 
'Tisn’t likely the water’ll come up here, even 
if it does get rather above the mark of the 
tree.” 

^^Are you going out again?” asked Mrs. 
Keep, after supper, as she saw her husband 
begin to exchange slippers for boots again 
and bring forward two lanterns to be lighted. 

“ Mayn’t I go too. Uncle Jack ? Do let me 
go with you, please — please 1” cried Cecil, 
unable to restrain his eagerness any longer. , 
Certainly not,” replied his uncle; ^^it 
is out of the question. Stay pleasantly here ; 
and if I do not return until late, go to bed 
when Mrs. Keep tells you it is time.” 

Cecil frowned angrily and pouted in a way 
he had not been seen to do for a long time, 
but he didn’t speak. He and Eben stood at 
the open door to see their friends depart, and 
gazed longingly after them. The evening 

was quite dark; the rush and roar of the 
6 « E 


66 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

waters seemed to fill tlie air, while occasional 
shouts and voices were heard above that 
sound, and lights gleamed at various points 
up the valley where men were out watching 
the progress of the flood. 

I want to go !" cried Cecil, at last, stamp- 
ing his foot violently. know I am big 
enough, and I’m sure there are lots of boys 
out to-night. It’s a shame !” 

“And I will go! so there!” said Eben, 
suddenly, from the darkness at his side. 

“Uncle Jack said ^No:’ so it's no use to 
talk that way,” answered Cecil, a little sulkily. 

“ He didn’t say it to me ; I never asked 
him a word. He told you to stay here and 
go to bed : and so you can. I’m going after 
them now, and take my punishment in the 
morning if I must:” and before his friend 
could reply, Eben seized his cap and rushed 
out of the door in the direction where two 
lanterns swinging along the road indicated 
the presence of Uncle Jack and Mr. Keep. 
He did not absolutely overtake them, know- 
ing that he would be sent back if discovered ; 


THE FLOOD. 


67 


but keeping in the darkness just beyond the 
gleaming circle spread by the lanterns, he 
splashed quietly along, the sense of wrong- 
doing in his mind for the present quite over- 
powered by the fascinating novelty of time 
and situation. 

It was evident from snatches of conversa- 
tion which he overheard that the west mill 
was the present object of anxiety to his 
guides; and when they came in view of it, 
Eben could not wonder. The water was on 
a level with the lower windows, pressing in a 
dark, resistless current against the side of 
the building, which even as they looked 
seemed to sway and settle down in the turbid 
flood. 

Just in time to see it go,” said Mr. Keep, 
in an odd sort of tone that made Eben wish 
he could see his face. 

But there was little time for thinking about 
that ; the next moment, with a slow, grinding, 
reluctant sort of crash, as if the timbers hated 
to be torn apart, one end of the mill swung 
round and floated down the stream, leaving 


68 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

the other end standing, a jagged fragment 
of displaced beams and shattered walls. 
There was a little murmur among the spec- 
tators, and Eben pinched his hands together 
very tightly with a thrill of excitement, 
ejaculating just above his breath, 

^‘My land!” 

“More water than land, I should think,” 
said a voice in the dusk close at his side. 
“The bridge will go next, and then what’ll 
you say ?” 

“ Do you think the bridge will go ?” asked 
Eben, eagerly, making out that the speaker 
was a lad apparently several years older than 
himself. 

“ Certain,” said the youth ; and Eben open- 
ed his mouth to question further, when a 
hand fell on his shoulder and drew him into 
the glare of Uncle Jack’s lantern. 

“ Eben Denny ? It is Eben, surely I How 
did you get here ?” 

“ Kan away after you,” replied Eben, 
promptly, very much chagrined at being 
captured thus early in his exploits. 


THE FLOOD. 69 

^^Then you may run back again. Did you 
not understand what I said to you boys?” 
asked Uncle Jack, rather sternly. 

^^Yes, sir, but I wanted to come. Please 
let me stay now I'm here, Mr. Burney, and 
finish out my badness.* I’ll take a double 
punishing to-morrow : indeed I will.” 

There was such a droll mixture in Eben’s 
words and voice of pleading, excuse, and 
honesty that Uncle Jack couldn’t help smil- 
ing to hear it, and the boy followed up his 
advantage by adding. 

Besides, I don’t know the way back to 
the house without a lantern, nor very well 
with one ; that’s a fact.” 

Frank Boss can take him back — a part of 
the way at least,” said Mr. Keep, who stood 
near. It’s no place for him here. Frank, 
take this little chap in hand, will you? Just 
anchor him at my house, or leave him at the 
bend in the road close by there.” 

There was no help for it; and Eben, with 
much inward disgust at being called a ^Uittle 
chap,” and at his fate generally, submitted 


70 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

to put liis hand in that of the big hoy who 
had spoken to him, and be led off through 
the dusk. Thus we will leave him for the 
present and see how it had fared with Cecil 
meantime. 

To say that he had been astonished at his 
friend’s abrupt departure would be to state 
his feelings with extreme mildness. When 
he recovered breath enough, his first impulse 
was to shout loudly and rush in pursuit of 
the runaway. But at that very moment Laura 
Angeline opened the door, and said, 

“ Why don’t you come in, boys ?” 

There isn’t but one hoy here„” answered 
Cecil, bringing into the light a very red and 
excited face. ^^Eben has run off after Un- 
cle Jack, and I think he’s the naughtiest, 
meanest — ” 

I wouldn’t say what I thought just now,” 
said Grandma Hausen, gently, interrupting 
Cecil’s impetuous speech. Don’t make two 
wrongs out of one by adding hard words to 
his disobedience.” 

Cecil swallowed his hasty words and his 


THE FLOOD. 


71 


rising anger, but be bad to stand a long time 
glowering into tbe fire before be could remark 
slowly, 

“ Generally, Eben is a pretty good boy, and 
does obey.” 

“ Tbats right,” said tbe old lady, stroking 
Cecil’s curly bead. Angie, get some of 
your chestnuts and roast 'em hero in tbe 
ashes.” 

Angie obeyed, and tbe children began to 
amuse themselves quite cheerfully. Every- 
body seemed to try to make Cecil forget all 
unpleasant things; and though he could not 
help an occasional wish that he might share 
in Eben’s but-door adventures, he was, on the 
whole, tolerably happy. 

The rushing sound of the flood was audible 
in the house, and several times Mrs. Keep 
went to the door and looked out. Once, Lion, 
who had been sniffing and growling in an 
uneasy fashion, accompanied her, and leaped 
barking down the steps, as if he meant to 
seek his master. It was useless to call him 
back, and Mrs. Keep shut the door, saying 


72 CECIL’S AUTUMN ADVENTURES. 

it could not be long now before all tbe absent 
ones returned. But tbe fire burned low, and 
no sound of footsteps greeted the ears of tbe 
listeners about it. 

Another sound began to be beard, however 
— a curious ripple of water close at band, 
and quite difierent from tbe steady roar that 
filled tbe air. 

“ What is it, mother ?” asked Angie. 

For answer, Mrs. Keep rose hurriedly, and 
with a startled face opened the door into the 
hall. A little tide met her at the threshold, 
splashed over her feet, gurgled into the room ; 
the flood had risen far above the mark of the 
tree in the garden. It was fast rising higher 
yet ; it was filling the very house itself. 


CHAPTER V. 


THE liESaUE. 



HE startled groups rose to their feet, 


standing a moment in irresolute alarm, 
^ until Angie broke the silence with a 
P little scream of terror : 


Oh, mother, mother ! We shall be 
drowned !” 

“ It must be that the dam at the upper end 
of the valley has fallen ; there was never 
anything like this before," said Mrs. Keep, 
speaking firmly, though she looked rather 
pale. Don’t cry, dear; we shall be all 
right somehow." 

Don’t you think we shall be drowned?" 
asked Cecil, tremulously. 

I trust not,” answered Grandma Hausen, 
encouragingly. We won’t give up in the 
very beginning, at any rate. It is rising fast, 
isn’t it, Julia? Then I think we had better 


7 


73 


74 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

get the children up stairs, while you and I 
look about a little.” 

In terrified silence Cecil followed the -old 
lady’s directions and mounted the stairs, while 
Mrs. Keep lifted the sleeping baby from his 
cradle and Angie clung sobbing to her dress. 
When all three we^e deposited in the little 
chamber Cecil and Eben had occupied the 
night before, Mrs. Keep charged them not 
to stir until she came back, and quickly 
descended to the sitting-room again. Poor 
Angie sobbed and screamed, and Cecil felt 
very sober indeed. He was certainly fright- 
ened, but there was a little feeling of excite- 
ment too, and he wondered if the house would 
be floated off like houses he had read of in 
stories of floods in other places, and where 
they would all bo landed in the morning ; or 
if — if they would never land at all. Where 
was Eben ? What would Uncle Jack say 
when ho came back to the house and there 
was no house? If they were all drowned — 
And here Cecil’s heart beat fast, and he sobbed. 
Oh, mamma, my mamma !” 


THE EESCUE. 


75 


Then he remembered that he was a boy 
and must be brave and strong, a comfort to 
his little weeping companion; so he put his 
arm around her, and said, 

Don’t cry, Angie; I think we shall be 
saved somehow. Your mother said so. God 
can take care of us, you know.” 

He can, but maybe he hasn’t a mind to, 
now,” sobbed Angie. 

^‘He — well, he always has a mind to do 
the best thing ; and I don’t believe he wants 
us to be drowned,” replied Cecil, puzzled how 
to meet this view of the case, but resolved 
to find consolation in some way. 

Presently, Mrs. Keep and Grandma Hausen 
came up stairs. Their dresses were very wet, 
and it was evident the water had increased 
since the children left the lower room. Mrs. 
Keep opened wide the window, setting one 
lamp on the sill and another on the table. 

There, daughter!” said she, taking Angie 
into her arms; ^^now let us be patient as we 
can. It is no use to scream for help yet, but 
I think father will find out the plight we are 


76 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

in and get us off before long. There can’t be 
such a rise in the water without people’s re- 
membering the houses on this road; and there 
are plenty of boats out.” 

But everybody is off at the mills and the 
bridge; nobody knows about us/’ mourned 
Angie. 

There is One who never forgets,” said 
Grandma Hausen, in a quiet voice that some- 
how made Cecil think of his own dear mamma 
and strive to take hold of the thought for 
comfort. 

Nevertheless, it seemed a long time that 
they waited, hearing the splash and bubble of 
water that seemed to fill the house, in cruel 
accompaniment to the monotonous roar which 
swelled the outer air. Cecil nestled close to 
Grandma Hausen, who sometimes uttered a 
cheerful word or patted his hand, but for the 
most part there was little talking. 

Was it one hour? Was it two? Was it 
twenty ? Cecil never knew, — under excitement 
the mind cannot well measure time, — ^but at last 
a shout came ringing over the flood — a shout 


THE RESCUE. 


77 


and a gruff, short bark which made Angie 
spring up, laughing and crying, and calling, 

“ Oh, father ! Oh, Lion ! Do come quick !” 
while her mother leaned far out the window, 
waving the lamp frantically and adding her 
voice to Angie’s in a way that, considering 
her composure during the evening, Cecil 
thought very surprising. 

Here we are, Simon ! Do make haste !” 

*^A11 right!" shouted the cheery voice 
again, and there was a splashing of oars and 
the sound of many voices close by the house. 
Help had come I 

If ever there were glad hearts, they were 
to be found in that little chamber when Mr. 
Keep strode in, dripping with water from 
his waist down, and followed by Lion, who 
barked and leaped and shook off a cataract 
of drops from his hairy coat in the excess of 
his doggish delight. 

Angie rushed into her father’s arms; and 
as he lifted her to his shoulder, he said. 

Come, the boat is halfway up the stairs ; 
we can step into it as easy as winking. Never 
7 * 


78 Cecil’s autumn adventuees. 

expected to sail out of your house, did you, 
wife? Well, stranger things than that have 
happened.” 

That might be true, but it certainly did 
seem very strange to Cecil to step into a boat 
and push off through the door where he had 
stood watching his uncle’s departure that 
very evening. Cecil almost felt that he was 
in a dream as Uncle Jack received him at the 
end of the small voyage and carried him into 
a house where a blazing fire and a cup of 
warm milk were ready for him. 

^^Here we all are, safe and sound,” said 
Mr. Keep as he placed Angie on the floor. 

Why, where’s Eben ? He came in the other 
boat, I suppose, didn’t he ?” 

“He wasn’t in the house at all; he ran 
after you when you went out,” said Cecil. 

“ What ? Hasn’t he been home since then ?” 
asked Uncle Jack, hastily. 

And then his face changed suddenly, and 
a great fear settled down on all hearts. 
Eben had not reached home. Where was he 
now ? 


THE EESCUE. 79 

The rushing of the flood suggested one 
possible terrible reply. 

Very sober faces met all the inquiries that 
were at once begun for the missing boy ; no 
one had seen him since Frank Boss parted 
with him just above the turn in the road lead- 
ing to Mr. Keep’s house. 

He promised to run right down there and 
go in, so I left him, for I was in a hurry to 
get back and see the bridge go. He couldn’t 
miss the road, and he spoke so honest I 
thought he’d certainly do as he said,” replied 
Frank to the many questions put to him. 

What could have happened to the boy, who 
was in truth given to such honest speech that 
everybody trusted to his word ? The anxiety 
increased, and poor little Cecil was quite over- 
whelmed by this addition to his Pennyville 
experiences. He begged so piteously to sit up 
until there was some news of his friend that 
Mrs. Keep compromised matters by putting 
him on the sofa with a shawl and pillow in 
the room where she and several other women 
were keeping watch. Here he dozed and 


80 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

waked uneasily, while out of doors Uncle 
Jack searched and wandered, waiting anx- 
iously for the dawn. At length it came, and 
with the first cold yellow rays that gleamed 
across the sullen sky a great shout came echo- 
ing up from a group of men far down the 
road. 

Found ! Found !” was the cry, and Uncle 
Jack went striding toward the sound with 
nervous feet. 

There ! Don't you see him, clinging 
to that tree over yonder ? Plucky little 
chap ! See him wave his arm this way. Bless 
the boy! What an escape he must have 
had 1” 

But while Mr. Keep was thus exclaiming, 
mopping his face with a red silk handkerchief, 
clearing his throat, and limping about excit- 
edly, Uncle Jack and two other men had 
taken possession of a boat, and were already 
pushing off toward the little figure perched 
in a tree which stood in what had been a 
field, but was now only a part of the lake 
which this one night had spread over so much 


THE EESCUE. 


81 


of the village. It was really Eben, holding 
fast to a branch with one hand, while he 
waved the other to his rescuers, and who*, 
being lifted into the boat wet, cold, and very 
pale, opened his stiffened lips to say, as he 
had said before when lost over Eattlesnake 
Ledge, 

I didn’t go to do it, Mr. Burney !” 

What a welcome the poor fellow received 
from Uncle Jack in the boat, from Mr. Keep 
on the shore, from Angie and her mother in 
the house, from Cecil, who rolled off the sofa 
and hugged his friend in ecstasy ! Then, 
when Eben — who had been dosed with hot 
tea, rubbed with hot flannels, and toasted be- 
fore a blazing fire — fell asleep under so many 
blankets, he looked only like a great heap 
of bedclothes; and Uncle Jack, taking his 
nephew on his knee, read with solemn glad- 
ness a psalm of praise : 

Oh, give thanks unto the Lord ; for he is 
good : for his mercy endureth for ever !” 

Cecil never forgot the verse, nor the sound 

of Uncle Jack’s voice when he read it. 

F 


82 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

When Eben was allowed to sit up and talk, 
his account of himself was very simple. 

After Frank left me,” he said, I waited 
a few minutes to listen if I could hear any 
crash from the bridge, because he said he 
thought it would certainly go soon. Then I 
ran down the road to the left pretty fast, for 
I was provoked, and then I wanted to tell 
Cecil about the mill. I saw the lights in the 
house, and just as I was ’most opposite to ’em 
I ran splash into some water. I had an idea 
I could wade through it — that it was a big 
puddle or something; so I took a few steps 
on, and the first thing I knew I was out of 
my depth. Well, then I tried to strike out 
and swim a little, but the tide just carried me 
along. I went pretty near the house, and 1 
called as loud as I could. The water was 
cold, and my clothes were so heavy I began 
to give up; only just then I struck against 
that tree and managed to cling hold of it, 
and finally to get up into it.” 

“ Poor Eben ! Weren’t you dreadfully 
frightened?” asked Cecil. 


THE RESCUE. 


83 


^^Well, you might call it by that name, I 
guess," said Eben, dryly. ^^And the scare 
wasn’t done when I got into the tree, either. 
I thought it might be torn up by the water, 
or that I might fall off, or that maybe I had 
floated so far nobody’d ever find me. I 
thought I’d run away, and now I was going 
to be drowned — just like boys are in books 
when they disobey. I tell you, I just wished 
I’d never seen Pennyville ! I guess I thought 
of every mean thing that ever I did, too," 
added Eben, confidentially, to his friend. 
^^And I concluded that if ever I did get. 
home, I wouldn’t do so many shabby things 
as I had, so ’t I shouldn’t have 'em to remem- 
ber next time I got drowned.” 

There was a quiver of Eben’s lip as he said 
this that quite contradicted any drollery there 
was in the words, and Cecil leaned close to 
his playmate in sympathetic silence. He had 
not been without similar thoughts himself dur- 
ing the time when the flood had seemed ready 
to sweep away the house and its inhabitants. 

The waters went down more rapidly than 


84 CECIL'S AUTUMN ADVENTUEES. 

they had risen, and the second day after the 
eventful night described the river was flowing 
in its accustomed channel as calmly as if it 
had never passed the present bounds. But 
the mischief it had done was not so easily put 
beyond notice; the broken mill, the piers 
where had stood the large bridge, the washed- 
out roads and banks, the displaced fences, 
and general look of dilapidation over the 
whole lower portion of Pennyville, told the 
story plainly. 

Word began to come from the upper end 
of the valley, where the flood had risen much 
more quickly and caused even greater de- 
struction than here. The boys listened eagerly 
to stories of barns floated away bodily with 
their contents, of flocks of sheep drowned in 
their pastures, of people driven from their 
homes by the hungry tide, which scarcely 
allowed them time to escape with their lives, 
leaving all else at the mercy of the waves. 

One life only had been lost : a very aged man 
— ‘‘Old Father Cameron," as he was called by 
the neighbours — was swept away and drowned. 


THE KESCUE. 


85 


^^The water just came up all of a sudden 
and knocked the little old cottage into a heap 
before any one had warning of it/’ said a 
man who had made his way down to Penny- 
ville, and was telling Mr. Keep the story. 
^'The old gentleman was in the porch; and 
when the water swept him off, he called back 
to his wife, just as calm and pleasant, ^ Good- 
bye, mother ; don’t fret after me.’ When we 
found him next morning, his face was so smil- 
ing and peaceful it seemed as if he had just 
gone home rejoicing. His wife smiled too 
when she saw it, and never said a word of 
complaint. She says it can’t be long before 
she follows him. Well, this valley will never 
know a better man than he has been since he 
came here forty years ago. There will never 
be any one more missed than he will.” 

The speaker wiped his eyes without any 
attempt to disguise his emotion over the 
recital of an event which touched many 
hearts in the neighbourhood, for Father 
Cameron ” was widely known and beloved. 

He wasn’t anything but just good, though,” 
8 


86 


CECIL S AUTUMN ADVENTURES. 


said Cecil as the boys talked over the incident 
together. know, for I asked Uncle Jack 
about it.” 

Just good is considerable to be, I think,” 
said Eben, bluntly. 'Tisn’t such easy work 
for most folks, I am sure.” 

^^Yes, of course; but I thought he must 
have been very rich or wise, or have done 
some great things, everybody seemed to think 
so much of him. But it was only just because 
he was good. Somehow, it doesn’t seem 
enough to live eighty years and not do any 
more than he did. I want to be more than 
just a good man, though I want to be that 
too,” said Cecil, knitting his brows in a per- 
plexed fashion. 

That’s because you have a chance to be 
more, I s’pose,” replied Eben. think a 
man ought to be up to all his chances and 
make the most of them, But a man can’t 
be any more than he has a chance to be, and 
goodness is always to be the first thing. I 
can’t explain it very well, but I know how it 
looks to me. I suppose Father Cameron did 


THE EESCUE. 


87 


just the best he could all the way through 
in everything. I’d like to be that kind of 
a man myself.” 

‘^So would I; but I can’t help thinking 
I’d like to have bigger things to do,” persist- 
ed Cecil. “ I wouldn’t like to be drowned, 
though. Eben, what do you suppose grand- 
ma will think when she hears all about the 
freshet ?” 

I think we must give her the opportunity 
to hear about it as soon as possible,” said 
Uncle Jack, coming in just in season to hear 
the last question. ‘^How soon can you be 
ready to start for home, boys ? Eben, do you 
feel able to travel yet ?” 

^^Oh yes, sir,” was Eben's prompt reply, 
feel as well as ever now, only a little 
lame, and that won’t last much longer.” 

So shortly after this conversation the boys 
bade adieu to Mr. Keep and his family, with 
many last words to Angie and lavish caresses 
for Lion. The ride home was toilsome and 
slow, the roads in wretched condition, and all 
the party weary enough when finally they 


88 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

reached Elm Terrace. Beports of the great 
freshet had reached Sharon, and their pro- 
longed absence had made grandma anxious 
and gave double joy to her welcome. You 
may he sure she had to listen to many ac- 
counts of the travellers’ adventures, and for 
a long time the boys thought and talked much 
of the remarkable flood at Pennyville and 
their experience there. 


CHAPTER VI. 

SCHOOL EXPERIENCES. 

T was quite a surprise to Cecil on his 
return to Elm Terrace to find that 
Larry Holbrook was established there 
at work as handily as if he had always 
belonged there. 

Mrs. Burney has promised to employ me 
all the fall and most of the winter,” said 
Larry, in reply to Cecil's eager questions. 
'^She gives me good pay, and I go home 
every night, so I can see how mother and the 
children are getting along. Mr. Denny plans 
my work and tells me what to do.” 

Do you like it ?” asked Cecil. 

First rate,” said Larry, promptly. 
don’t believe Mr. Denny thought I should be 
good for much at first, but to-day he said I 
was a handy chap and should earn my wages.” 

^ Mr. Denny doesn't often praise any one, 
8 » 89 • 



90 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

so I think he must like you pretty well. How 
is your sister — the sick one, I mean?” asked 
Cecil. 

Susie will never get any better, I expect,” 
said Larry, soberly. ^‘She is real patient, 
though, and so pleased when any one is good 
to her. She liked those picture-books you 
sent first rate.” 

Larry’s tone was grateful, although he ex- 
pressed no word of thanks, and Cecil under- 
stood it. He walked away, thinking quite 
gravely of little Susie and planning what he 
could do to give her some additional pleasure ; 
and with this thought in his mind he entered 
the house, intending to look over his treasures 
and select something from them for her benefit. 
But grandma met him with a piece of informa- 
tion that quite banished Susie Holbrook and 
her wants from his mind for the time. It 
was decided that Cecil was to attend the 
village school in company with Eben, and 
they were to begin that very day. 

That is jolly, grandma ! You must let 
me shout,” cried Cecil. “I always wanted 


SCHOOL' EXPERIENCES. 


91 


to go to school; and thought it a shame I was 
made to study at home. It wasn’t so bad 
with mamma, she made things so clear and 
interesting. But I was dreadfully afraid she 
would make me have a governess while she 
was gone, and that would have been too miser- 
able. But I might have known she wouldn’t, 
though.” 

Why ?” asked grandma, with an appear- 
ance of interest. 

Well, governesses do very well for girls” 
began Cecil, but — ” 

But they are altogether too good for boys, 
eh ?” interrupted Uncle Jack. I quite agree 
with you. Only I hardly thought you were 
so humble as to own it.” 

Cecil laughed as he ran away to get ready, 
and made . no more self-important remarks 
that morning. Eben, who had attended school 
before, was not so pleased as Cecil at the 
prospect before him, but he rejoiced at having 
his friend for a companion, and the boys set 
off quite merrily. Uncle Jack gave them a 
note for Miss* Fontaine, the teacher, who 


92 CECIL’S AUTUMN ADVENTUEES. 


welcomed them kindly and gave them desks 
side by side. 

Looking about, Cecil discovered that the 
school-room held many of his village acquaint- 
ances and playmates. There was Georgie Bell 
close by, while Grade sat in the opposite 
corner; Archer Clavering and his brother 
nodded at him from afar, and across the aisle 
sat Sylvie Deane’s own sweet self, her pretty 
face all dimples and smiles of recognition. 

At recess she gave Cecil an enthusiastic 
welcome, and the general play which followed 
was so enjoyable that at its close he felt quite 
acquainted with all the pupils, even those 
to whom he had never spoken before. Al- 
together, the first day’s experience was very 
agreeable, and Cecil reported himself to grand- 
ma at night in a state of enthusiasm. 

“ I had ^ Perfect ' for all my lessons, grand- 
ma — she puts us all down in a book, you 
know ; and my conduct-mark was better than 
anybody’s : she says I will get to be a 
monitor pretty soon if I keep on — but Archer 
Clavering got three checks for whispering. 


SCHOOL EXPERIENCES. 


93 


And oh, grandma, everybody, the girls and 
all, recite poetry Friday afternoons, and I 
want you to choose me something perfectly 
splendid to say, 'cause Sylvie said she knew 
I'd have the nicest piece among the boys.” 

^^Say 'bout free little mice sat in 'e barn 
to spin, pussy came by and popped her head 
in,” said Benjie, who had been greatly inter- 
ested in that lyric from his “ Mother Goose ” 
of late, and was trying to teach it to Morgi- 
ana. Mayn’t me go to 'cool wis you, Cecil ?” 

“When you are old enough, Benjie dar- 
ling,” said his brother, with an air as if he 
felt the weight of years pressing on his own 
curly head. “ Eben says he used to declaim 
up at Swampscott ; I mean to go and ask him 
what kind of poetry is the best.” 

Cecil departed, first calling Mop and in- 
dulging in the frolic which always preceded 
their going out of doors in company. 

Probably no one but Cecil would have 
thought of calling Mop “ the handsomest dog 
in the country,” but he was undoubtedly 
smart-looking, and any thought of ugliness 


94 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

was dispelled by a look at bis eyes. They 
were soft and beautiful, full of intelligence, 
and at times brimming with fun. Tipping 
his head on one side, he would look up at his 
master with deep interest ; and if Cecil bade 
him “come for a walk,” then was the time 
to see Mop in ecstasies. At once he would 
spring up, describing with his body and limbs 
most extraordinary angles, and executing 
gymnastics that in variety, energy, and awk- 
wardness excelled any “system” that was 
ever invented ; he would sneeze, roll over, beg, 
jump clear off the floor and come down with 
a clumsy end-for-end or side-for-side somer- 
sault with a great thump. He would stand 
on his hind legs and paw at the door knob, 
whine, rub his nose against Cecil's arm or 
lick his hand all over, and then race back and 
forth across the room as if he were mad, until, 
the door being opened, he would rush away 
as if on a wager. He always came bounding 
back at the sound of Cecil's whistle, however, 
and circling round and round him, seemed to 
ask by his actions for the words of encourage- 


SCHOOL EXPERIENCES. 


95 


merit and caressing liis young master never 
withheld. A great affection had grown up 
between the two, and many times Cecil said 
to himself, 

‘‘ How good mamma was to think of getting 
Mop to keep me from being so lonely while 
she is away !" 

Eben’s experience at Swampscott had cer- 
tainly made him proficient in declamation ” 
— at least so Cecil thought when he had per- 
suaded his friend to give him a specimen of 
his powers that evening up in the barn loft. 
Eben gave some spirited verses about William 
Tell so excellently that Cecil was filled with 
admiration. 

Nobody can beat that,” he exclaimed. 

I don’t see how you do it, Eb.” 

^‘Father trained me when I wasn’t much 
more’n a baby,” said Eben, much gratified 
at his friend’s praise. ^‘1 don’t expect I’m 
great in grammar and things, but I shouldn’t 
wonder if I could beat Georgie Bell at speak- 
ing.” 

So indeed it proved ; and whatever Eben’s 


96 Cecil’s autumn adventuees. 

awkwardness or deficiencies in other matters, 
he was certainly the hero of Friday after- 
noons in the village school. 

The days went by peacefully and pleasantly 
until Cecil had ended the second week of his 
school-life. He was rushing breathlessly to 
school on Monday morning, for his '^good 
marks ” had carried him to the position of 
monitor, when he overtook Sylvie Dean, 
wrapped in her scarlet cloak and hopping 
along like a plump little robin. 

I am bringing you an apple, Cecil,” she 
said as he joined her. It’s the kind grandpa 
calls like me, ’cause it is a ^ Nonesuch.’ ” 

“ Thank you,” replied Cecil. “ But, Sylvie, 
I must hurry, because I am monitor this week, 
and it isn’t very early now. Won’t you please 
run ?” 

“No,” said Sylvie, calmly; “I thought I 
should go down to Warren’s and spend five 
cents that grandpa gave me. But I shan’t 
be very late, and you mustn’t mark me, 
Cecil.” 

“ Why, Sylvie !” cried her friend, greatly 


SCHOOL EXPERIENCES. 


97 


surprised; ^^you know 111 have to do my 
duty: that’s what Miss Fontaine says about 
monitors.” 

“YeS; but it’s your duty to take care of 
me and please me, else I wouldn’t have prom- 
ised to marry you,” said little Sylvie, with 
perfect composure. Greorgie Bell would, any 
way. He never tells of me when he is it, 
and I don’t suppose you want me to like him 
the best, do you ?” 

Then he tells a lie, or acts one, and it’s 
just as bad,” cried Cecil, completely bewil- 
dered at this astonishing remark from his 
little friend. Oh, Sylvie — ” 

But Sylvie tripped past the schoolyard 
gate without one backward glance, and Cecil 
looked after her, almost choking with a mix- 
ture of vexation, amusement, and surprise. 
He thought she must mean a joke ; and yet, 
when he reflected that he had certainly dis- 
covered in these last two weeks that Georgie 
Bell was not particular to be perfectly honest 
always, he felt very uncomfortable. He 

watched the door feverishly until the five-min- 
9 G 


98 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 


ute bell struck and the key was turned, and 
then gave it up with a sigh. 

Every Monday morning the children found 
a motto neatly and distinctly printed on the 
blackboard facing their desks, and Cecil al- 
most thought that Miss Fontaine must have 
had Georgie and Sylvie in mind as he looked 
up and read the one she had selected for the 
present week : 

“It is required that a man be found 

FAITHFUL.” 

“Means me too, I s’pose,” thought Cecil, 
directly. “ Dear me ! thought it was nice 
to be monitor, but ’tisn’t.” 

The first class were reciting, and Miss 
Fontaine’s back was toward the door, when 
it opened softly, and Sylvie crept in. She 
glanced pleadingly at the monitor’s desk, and 
Cecil’s courage wavered as he met her eyes. 
He didn’t know it would be so hard to report 
his little favourite. Then he pinched his hands 
together, and said slowly, 

“ Number twenty-one, tardy.” 


SCHOOL EXPERIENCES. 


99 


** Twenty-one may write," said Miss Fon- 
taine, without turning her head. 

It was the rule that whoever was late must 
write his or her name on the blackboard, \ 
adding to it the number of minutes late, and 
let it remain there all day for the school and 
chance visitors to read. 

Sylvie took the crayon in her dimpled 
fingers and glanced up at the clock. She 
never could remember the queer figures ; tell- 
ing the time always puzzled her, and she stood 
knitting her pretty brows, troubled and pout- 
ing. Somebody gave a sudden cough, and a 
boy in the corner twinkled his hazel eyes en- 
couragingly at her and held up his ten fingers 
spread widely once, twice, and then nodded. 
She understood that, so there was slowly 
put on the board, in rather large crook- 
ed letters, SYLVIE,” and twenty little 
straight marks straggling after it. The cor- 
ner boy twinkled his eyes comically at Cecil, 
who half smiled, and — as the monitor only 
spoke aloud the tardy names — wrote down 
Eben's name on the slate ; and he didn't mind 


100 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

that at all. Poor Sylvie went to her desk, 
looking flushed and almost tearful. Cecil did 
mind that, you may be sure. 

That one little c ” for communicating ” 
was all that went down against Eben’s name 
for the day, but it seemed as if Sylvie Deane 
was determined to have her name repeated as 
many times as possible. She laughed and 
played and drew pictures on her slate to make 
the other children laugh; she ate an apple 
behind her book and snapped the seeds at 
Cecil; she nibbled candy, and made a frog 
of her handkerchief and jumped it almost up 
to the ceiling. At recess she played with 
Georgie Bell and would not look at Cecil; 
though she spoke more than once in a tone 
meant for him to hear of her opinion about 
“people that pretended to like other people, 
but wouldn’t oblige them the least bit.” 

“ And I really do like her so much,” said 
poor Cecil, in a moment of mournful private 
conference with Eben. “But it’s dreadful 
to have her grow so naughty all at once ; I 
never supposed Sylvie would want to be dis- 


SCHOOL EXPERIENCES. 


101 


honest. I think school is a very bad place. 
It will be the ruin of Sylvie, I’m sure.” 

'^Pooh! No, it won’t,” said Eben, with 
philosophy. She’ll act as bad as she can 
to-^y, and then she’ll feel dreadfully sorry 
to-morrow. She is having a tantrum, as 
Aunt Celindy says, and she will get over it. 
As for school, well, lots of people cheat, any- 
way, and I s’pose they would in other places 
besides school just as much.” 

But Cecil could not lake comfort in his 
friend’s philosophy ; and when, at nearly the 
close of school, he saw how his slate was 
written over with Sylvie’s name, his heart 
quite failed him. Such a list of penalties was 
quite appalling, and he couldn’t help feeling 
that he himself was partly to be blamed for 
it. If he could only have helped reporting 
her tardiness, she would not have been an- 
gered into defying him and the rules of school. 
She would never forgive him when she found 
into how much disgrace a report of all her 
naughty pranks had put her ; it was a very 
dismal state of things. 


102 Cecil’s autumn adventukes. 

Then a bright thought came to his mind. 
Suppose he were to take her disgrace himself ; 
suppose he should write down his name in- 
stead of hers, and let Miss Fontaine give 
him the punishment. She would think him 
very naughty to play when he was in a posi- 
tion of trust, but Sylvie would think he was 
very kind and heroic, and then she would 
listen to him when he told her that he had 
to report her tardiness because he must be 
truthful. Foolish Cecil hastily wrote his own 
name over Sylvie’s ; she was so little, and she 
didn’t really mean to break so many rules. 
He began to feel himself quite knightly 
and heroic, and to imagine how the other 
boys would admire his self-sacrifice for friend- 
ship, and how Sylvie would love him. 

It is required that a man be found faith- 
ful” suddenly loomed before his eyes. It 
was as much a lie to change Sylvie’s name 
for his own as it would be not to report her 
mischief at all. To suffer her punishment 
would be much easier than to tell the truth 
and let this wretched quarrel go on ; but he 


SCHOOL EXPERIENCES. 


103 


must be faithful,” bo mustn’t tell a lie, 
though it looked such a glittering, generous 
one. 

Miss Fontaine looked surprised, as well 
she might, at the appearance of Cecil’s slate, 
smirched with erasures and crossed with un- 
certain lines. 

What does this mean, Cecil ?” she asked, 
pointing at the letters of his own name faintly 
showing through writing over them. 

I — well — you see — I didn’t like to put 
Sylvie down so much, and I set out to take 
her marks. But it wouldn’t have been true,” 
said Cecil, faintly. 

Certainly not,” said Miss Fontaine. But 
I don’t understand.” 

Please,” cried Cecil, interrupting — please 
do excuse Sylvie part of them. She is so 
little, and I don’t think she meant to be so 
naughty. We — we quarrelled this morning, 
and she wanted to vex me and make me re- 
port her because she knew I didn’t like it. I 
wish you’d forgive her. Miss Fontaine.” 

The teacher only smiled as she bade him 


104 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

return to his desk, and Sylvie began to sob 
in her mite of a handkerchief as she heard 
what a long list followed her name. There 
was an explosion of tempers when the children 
were dismissed and assembled in the yard. 

She didn’t mean all that, of course,” said 
Grace, comforting the small weeping culprit 
in her arms. 

“ Well, but I didn’t want to put it down,” 
cried Cecil, distressed. I hope you didn’t 
expect me to lie, though ?” 

“You needn’t lie; you just needn’t see all 
she did,” said Georgie. 

“ But a monitor is to see,” began Cecil. 

“ Fiddlestick ! I wouldn’t go and tell of 
everything; and a little girl, too !” 

“ Then you’d be untrue,” said Cecil, in great 
wrath. 

“ And you pretend to be all good, I s’pose ?” 
said Georgie, mockingly. “My father says 
he don’t approve of monitors, and I don’t, 
too. It’s just setting us up to tell of each 
other, and that is mean. Everybody despises 
a telltale, and I say she ought not to expect 


Cfcd’s Slutumn ^ti&entureB 



“She didn’t mean all that, of course,’’ said Grace. 

p. 104. 



SCHOOL EXPERIENCES. 


105 


US to be one. For my part, I won’t ; I’ll be 
honourable !” 

A murmur of admiration greeted Georgie’s 
plausible speech as he looked grandly around, 
and Cecil was perplexed and troubled. 

^‘But I don’t think it is like that,” he said. 

No more 'tisn’t,” said Eben, suddenly 
and stoutly, coming to his friend’s relief. 
“ It’s like being a soldier on guard ; he can’t let 
another desert and go past him, because it’s his 
orders not. He isn’t the commander himself, 
but he has his duty to do, and he must do it, 
if it’s against his own brother. Miss Fontaine 
don’t set us up just to tell of each other, and 
there’s nothing mean about it. She makes us 
monitors to help each other keep the rules bet- 
ter, and to help her teach us better, ’cause she 
don’t have to keep watching our actions all 
the time while she hears us recite. I tell 
you what : if you want to lie or cheat when 
you are put up to be trusted, I don’t, nor 
Cecil don’t; and it would be more to your 
credit, Georgie Bell, if you liked the truth as 
well. You make a great fuss about Celling 


106 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

tales/ but cheating is a sight worse in ray 
opinion, and lying isn’t ‘ honourable ’ that 
ever I learned.” 

^‘True, Eben,” said Miss Fontaine’s voice 
close by. George, it is for your benefit to 
believe him.” 

Miss Fontaine certainly had very incon- 
venient ears the children thought as then and 
there she gave them a little talk about faith- 
fulness that made their cheeks tingle with 
shame. 

Cecil and Eben walked home together with- 
out any further discussion, but Georgie Bell 
was very angry, and the result of the day’s 
trials did not end here. 


CHAPTER VII. 

HELPING LARRY.— THE BONFIRE. 

RANDMA listened patiently to the 
story of Cecils troubles, comforted 
him with the hope that Sylvie was 
really too affectionate and sweet- 
tempered to remain angry a long time, and 
gave her approval to his and Eben’s definition 
of the monitorship. Then, as it is one of 
the best ways to forget our own trials by 
thinking about the greater trials of some one 
else, she set him to select a book and some 
papers for Larry to take to his sister, while 
she put up a basket of dainties to tempt the 
little girTs sickly appetite. 

^'And I wish you would find out, if you 
can, whether anything is troubling Larry 
more than usual; he has looked very sober 
for a day or two, and does not whistle at his 

work as he used. I thought perhaps he 

107 



108 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

would be more likely to talk freely with you 
than with a grown person/’ said grandma, 
smoothing Cecil’s curls. “ Only you must be 
gentle and not tease him ; he is very independ- 
ent, and afraid of seeming to want help in 
anything he can accomplish by his own exer- 
tions.” 

Don’t you think that is good in him, 
grandma?” asked Cecil. like him just 
for that — because he has so much pluck.” 

Grandma smiled, and Cecil ran off to find 
Larry, who was diligently at work in the 
woody ard, and who, though usually glad to 
see his little friend, to-day gave him but a 
sombre greeting. 

^^Is Susie any worse?” asked Cecil, after 
giving grandma’s message about the basket 
of jelly and watching his companion’s sober 
face a while. 

“ I don’t know ; I suppose so,” said Larry, 
gravely, Why ?” 

Because I thought you looked sad about 
something,” returned Cecil. Is anything the 
matter, Larry? Perhaps I can’t help you 


HELPING LARRY. — THE BONFIRE. 109 

any, but maybe you’d feel better for telling ; 
I do sometimes.” 

— it’s nothing but what will always ail 
me,” said Larry, swallowing hard and winking 
fast as the sympathizing tone and words fell 
on his ear. Things don’t go right at our 
house; Susie is sicker, and mother can’t get 
work, and can’t do it if she does, and I 
want some money, so it 'most kills me. I 
believe I’d walk on hot coals to get what I 
want, and here I can only earn just enough 
to keep the children fed.” 

Larry spoke impetuously, as if there was, 
as Cecil suggested, relief in telling what had 
oppressed his heart for several days, and 
drawing his jacket cuff across his eyes, dashed 
at his work again with increased zeal. 

What do you want the most? — ^how much, 
I mean? I’ve got a money-box that hasn’t 
been opened for ever so long; and if you — 
I’d like — ” Cecil stammered and rushed on : 

I’m awfully sorry for you, Larry, and I like 
you ever so much, and I wish you’d take it.” 

“ Twenty dollars — thirty — more’n you've 
10 


110 Cecil's autumn adventuees. 

got ; and I couldn’t beg or borrow of you if 
you had five hundred, either,” cried Larry, 
raking desperately at the chips. But you’re 
kind, and I’m obliged to you for that; and 
don’t mind if I talk cross, ’cause I don’t feel 
it to you. Only to things. I can’t talk any 
longer, for I’m in such a hurry. Mother 
hasn’t any wood to burn, and I want to hurry 
through with this job, so as to go home early 
enough to get her a load.” 

‘‘ Where will you get it ?” asked Cecil. 

“ Oh, I don’t mean split wood like that in 
the shed. Mr. Plummer lets me gather all 
the brush I can find in his woods, and some- 
times there are logs and windfalls, or stumps 
even, that I can split up, and that burn . com- 
plete.” 

But it’s 'most tea-time now, and then it 
is dark right away. You never can get 
enough wood to make one little fire to-night,” 
said Cecil. ^^And it must be such hard 
work !” 

I’ll have to work lickety-clip, then,” said 
Larry ; and Cecil laughed aloud at the novel 


HELPING LARRY. — THE BONFIRE. Ill 

expression, running off to the house as if he 
was on some extraordinary errand. 

He came racing back almost before Larry 
had begun to wonder at his sudden departure, 
breathless, panting between every word, but^ 
gleeful at the story he had to tell : 

Grandma says we may — take old Light- 
foot — Eben and me — in the wagon — and carry 
you up home with an axe — and help you get 
the wood ourselves — if you like to have us. 
Anyway, you are not to stop to work any 
more. Isn’t it great fun ? Eben will call it 
jolly, if you think so too. I always do like 
to go somewhere and drive ourselves.” 

That is good,” said Larry, heartily. ^T’d 
be glad of the ride home, I tell you ; but it’s 
pretty hard work getting sticks, and I don’t 
believe you and Eben better do that.” 

Oh yes, let us,” begged Cecil. Well, I 
will go and get Eben while you harness Light- 
foot. I wish I was tall enough to bridle him 
myself.” 

Eben was greatly pleased to join in the 
combination of benevolence and ‘‘fun,” and 


112 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

the three boys were soon on their way to 
Larry’s home and the woods beyond. Grand- 
ma gave them the basket for Susie, and also 
a luncheon to eat while riding along, that 
they might not feel too keenly the loss of their 
supper. 

Cecil and Eben talked merrily, and Larry’s 
cheerfulness seemed on the increase with 
every turn of the wheels until his home was 
reached. Then, while Eben fastened old 
Lightfoot and Cecil tugged and tiptoed to 
blanket him, Larry quickly got together an 
axe, a coil of small rope, and a rude hand- 
cart, and prepared to guide the boys to what 
he called his wood-lot.” 

Up over the hill and into the edge of the 
woods they went, and there Larry valiantly 
attacked a fallen tree, chopping away with 
sturdy, well-directed strokes, while the other 
boys collected scattered sticks and branches, 
and hacked away with the hatchet which 
grandma had stipulated must be their only 
tool. In her eyes they were too young to 
handle the axe which Larry grasped so boldlv ; 


HELPING LARRY. — THE BONFIRE. 113 

though it is certain both Eben and Cecil did 
not agree with her opinion. 

It was almost dark under the trees when 
at last a large pile of firewood was collected, 
heaped upon the cart, and fastened securely 
with the cord, and they began tugging the 
load down the hill, the younger boys pulling 
in front and Larry pushing and steadying 
from behind. 

That’s all right,” exclaimed he, in a tone 
of great satisfaction, as they brought up be- 
fore the little cottage. There’s a banging 
load of wood — enough to last a number of 
days; and it’s all owing to you I’ve got it. 
You’re real good fellows, and I’m obliged.” 

Tired, with ears and fingers tingling with 
the cold and their exertions, Cecil and his 
friend clambered into the wagon and drove 
away, followed by Larry’s repeated thanks 
and the gratified ejaculations of three smaller 
Holbrooks, who crowded the door to gaze after 
their brother’s helpers. 

It was dark and the wind was chilly, but 
the boys felt quite ^^warm at their hearts,” 
10 « H 


114 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

as Cecil expressed it, and rode along, happy 
at having been kind to another, and enjoying 
a little excitement at their responsibility in 
getting home alone at that time in the even- 
ing. Old Lightfoot jogged off steadily; I 
don’t suppose anything could have induced 
him to run or to swerve from a straight course, 
but Eben took great care to hold the reins 
firmly and Cecil felt it needful to peer earn- 
estly into the gathering shadows ahead, lest 
they should not be prepared to meet some- 
thing;” and both boys highly enjoyed the 
magnified and possibly quite imaginary dan- 
gers of their return. 

“Well done!” cried Uncle Jack as they 
drove up to Elm Terrace ; and grandma 
echoed “Well done!” as she hurried them 
into the house to partake of warm milk and 
baked sweet apples. 

“ Such a boy as that deserves ever so much 
more than we have done for him,” said Eben 
as he departed to tho lodge. “I tell you, 
he’s what I call first rate.” 

Cecil agreed, and went up stairs without a 


HELPINa LARRY. — THE BONFIRE. 115 

thought of what had distressed him so much 
at the close of school', > but with many thoughts 
of Larry Holbrook s poverty and courage, and 
of the goodness that had made his own life 
so differently sheltered and happy. 

I shouldn’t be half such a nice boy as he 
if I had so hard a time,” thought Cecil, hum- 
bly, as he placed his curly head on the pillow. 

I am very thankful God gave me dear 
mamma and all these happy things. If I 
was a man, I’d give Larry all he wants. I 
wonder what he would do with all of twenty 
dollars ?” 

He did not see Larry again until noon of 
the next day, when, running in from school, 
he whistled for Mop, who did not, as usual, 
come barking to meet him. 

He followed the Holbrook boy away from 
the house,” said nurse. He seems just pos- 
sessed to get with him when you are gone.” 

^^He’s lonely, of course,” said Cecil, going 
off to the outbuildings, alternately whistling 
and shouting for Mop and Larry. 

He found them some distance off, in the 


116 Cecil’s autumn adventukes. 

corn-crib, where Larry was husking sweet 
corn for drying, and Mop was snuffing and 
growling and wriggling about, imagining he 
smelled rats and extremely excited thereby. 

^^What a bright little dog that is!” said 
Larry as he laughingly watched the frolic- 
some and uproarious greeting between Cecil 
and his pet. ^‘He seems determined to fol- 
low me all the time while you are gone, and 
he is real company. You don’t mind, do 
you?” 

“hTo, indeed,” said Cecil; suppose he 
is lonely while I’m at school, and I like to 
have him stay with you. I’m glad he likes 
you, for he won’t be so likely to run away 
from the terrace to find me. I did take him 
to school once, and he lay still under my desk 
for about an hour. Miss Fontaine had some 
kind of curly ruffles on her dress that shook 
when she walked, and Mop watched them, 
and all at once he jumped and caught them 
in his teeth, and growled and pulled and 
worried them like anything. I laughed so 
I could hardly get him away, and she told 


HELPING LARRY. — THE BONFIRE. 117 

me never to let him follow me again. He 
was only in fun, though.” 

^^Do you know how much he is worth?” 
asked Larry. 

heard Uncle Jack say he was very 
valuable. Mamma gave him to me, when she 
went away, for a keepsake.” 

There was a man down in the store to- 
day asked me what I’d take for him. Mop 
followed me when Mrs. Burney sent me to 
Lawton’s of an errand. I said he wasn’t my 
dog, and the man praised him and said if he 
was mine he would pay me ten dollars for 
him. He wasn’t very clean, and didn’t look 
as if he had so much money, only he had 
gold rings in his ears.” 

wouldn’t sell Mop for ten times ten 
dollars,” cried Cecil, impulsively. hope 
you told him so ?” 

“ Of course I said he wasn’t mine to sell,” 
answered Larry. If he had been. I’d have 
made a bargain with him. But ten dollars 
isn’t so large to you as it is to me.” 

‘^It isn’t large enough to buy Mop, any- 


118 Cecil's autumn adventures. 

how,” said Cecil, positively. ** Say, Larry, I 
wish you’d tell me what you want such a lot 
of money as twenty dollars for. I won't tell 
anybody, and maybe I can help you think 
of some way to earn it.” 

I have got an idea of part of it myself,” 
replied Larry. don’t know; I’d tell you 
as soon as anybody, Cecil, but I guess I’ll 
wait : maybe I’ll tell you by and by. Not 
about how I think of raising the money, but 
what I want it for, I mean.” 

With that Cecil had to be content, and 
went to his dinner wondering what scheme 
Larry could have devised for obtaining his 
wishes, and why he was so unwilling to reveal 
it. He did not think of it long, for Eben 
came up and proposed to ask leave to have a 
bonfire in the field that evening. 

Because,” said he, Aunt Celindy says 
we shall have snow very soon; she feels it 
in the air. And after it comes we can’t have 
one. We might make some jack-o’-lanterns 
before tea — Uncle Denny said we might have 
all the green pumpkins we wanted — ^and ask 


HELPING LARRY. — THE BONFIRE. 119 

some of the boys and Sylvie to come up and 
see the fun.” 

What jolly things you do think of, Eben !” 
cried his friend, admiringly. ^^I’m pretty 
sure Uncle Jack will say ^ Yes he was telling 
me last night about the times when he used 
to make fires and pumpkin lanterns, and lots 
of things.” 

Uncle Jack did say Yes,” in spite of grand- 
ma’s half-expressed fears, for he remembered 
his own boyhood and the charms it found in 
the lots of things ” which his nephew had 
mentioned. 

Only I shall make it a condition that you 
do not set on fire my fences or the property 
of any one. else,” he said. The ending of 
the frolic must be carefully looked after, as 
well as the beginning. I shouldn’t take my 
pay in picking over apples, remember.” 

We will not owe you anything but thanks 
for our good time ; we will be so careful you 
will forget Mr. Plummer’s fire,” said Cecil. 

^^My land! I rather think so,” added 
Eben^ who could not yet hear any allusion 


120 cecil’^ autumn adventuees. 

■ to their North woods experience without 
growing warm and uncomfortable. 

The boys whom Cecil invited for the even- 
ing joyfully agreed to come if possible; and 
as Sylvie was not at school, he went around 
to her home to invite her also. Since their 
quarrel she had kept aloof from Cecil, and he' 
felt very doubtful how she would receive him, 
but he was determined to make peace with 
her if possible. She came slipping down 
from stair to stair when her mother called 
her, and listened shyly while Cecil stated 
the object of his call, ending, 

“Do come, Sylvie, and let’s be jolly once 
more.” 

“Hm!” said Sylvie, doubtfully. “I don’t 
know as I feel like coming ; I didn’t feel like 
going to school.” 

“ Why not ? Are you sick ?” asked Cecil. 

“Only in my mind,” said Sylvie, with a 
little sigh. 

“What’s the matter?” asked Cecil again, 
going nearer the little figure standing so 
demurely by the door. 


HELPING LARKY. — THE BONFIRE. 121 

I 'spect it’s remorse,” said Sylvie, gravely. * 

*^Why, Sylvie — ” Cecil began. 

I ’spect I sba’n’t feel happy until you 
forgive me, and I don’t know as I ever shall,” 
said Sylvie, despondently. I s’posed I was 
a pretty good girl, hut it ’pears I’m like the 
little heathen children; only I know better, 
and they don’t. Wanting you to tell lies, 
and getting cross, and all those bad marks 
against my name, and me telling grandpa 
I’d been good at school, and he calling me his 
darling ! I wish I-hadn’t ever been born and 
was a better girl, so I do 1” 

Sylvie began to weep, and Cecil’s soul was 
filled with affectionate pity : 

You darling Sylvie I Of course I do for- 
give you over and over, and I want you to 
forgive me too. I was cross myself, and then 
I’m the oldest, and I ought to have explained 
to you about monitors and being true in all 
things; for of course you didn’t mean to be 
so naughty, and I’m going to ask Miss Fon- 
taine It) excuse part of your marks.” 

Cedi’s attempt at consolation was not much 

II 


122 . Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

less confused than Sylvie’s speech of repent- 
ance, but the children understood each other, 
and peace was made between them. 

“ I cried and cried last night,” said Sylvie, 
after I told mamma all about it. She said 
I was very naughty. Then I learned a hymn 
that goes like this : 

‘ Whatever I may do or wherever I may be, 
Although I see him not, yet God sees me 

and she said I must think of that when I 
wanted to be naughty — not to be afraid of 
God, you know, but to love him for always 
watching a little girl like me and wanting me 
to be good. So I shall, I ’spect ; I mean to 
try.” 

Your mamma talks like mine, I think,” 
said Cecil. 

‘‘ Mammas are lovely, I think,” said Sylvie. 
“ Well, ril come to the bonfire if she will let 
Michael bring me and your girl is going to 
see after us.” 

She will, and Uncle Jack too. Good-bye, 
Sylvie ; I’m real glad we are friends again 
and so saying, Cecil rah home light-hearted. 


HELPING LAHRY. — THE BONFIRE. 123 

The bonfire proved a great frolic that even- 
ing. Uncle Jack himself helped the boys 
pile it up and arrange it to burn to the best 
advantage ; it flamed up high in the air, far 
above their heads, lighting up all the field 
and reddening the figures of the boys as they 
pranced about like wild Indians. 

Eben had made most grotesque masks of 
the jack-o’-lanterns, and there was one for 
each boy; so when the bonfire burned low, 
they poised the grinning things on their heads 
and- formed a comical procession through the 
darkness from the field to the terrace, where 
grandma looked out and laughed heartily at 
them, and then asked them all in to a feast 
of nuts and apples. 

Sylvie, in her scarlet cloak, danced about 
in great glee, enjoying the whole, and Ben- 
jie’s only grief was that Morgiana wouldn’t 
like it as well as he did, but ran spitting and 
growling under the piazza after scratching 
the chubby hands which tried to make her 
a guest at the frolic. As for Mop, the fire 
excited him even more than it did Morgiana, 


124 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

but in a different way, and be joined in all 
tbe fun with wonderful barks and gymnastics. 

When the guests had gone, Eben and Cecil 
went back to the field, carefully extinguishing 
every bit of fire remaining, and pouring water 
all about the place. 

It’s all right, and we’ve had a splendid, 
splendidest time !” reported Cecil to his uncle. 

But George Bell, who had refused the 
invitation Cecil gave him in the hope of soft- 
ening his anger, watched the glow of the fire 
from afar, and said, as he turned sullenly 
away. 

I’ll pay up those boys yet.” 


CHAPTER VIII. 

A SAD PUZZLE. 

RS. DENNY'S feelings regarding the 
state of the atmosphere were not far 
wrong; for when Cecil awoke the 
next morning, the first snow of the 
season was falling softly. It had already 
spread a light veil over the blackened remains 
of last night’s fire and coated grandma’s 
flower-beds until they looked like great frosted 
cakes, as Cecil said. He had never before 
been at Elm Terrace so late in the season, and 
filled the breakfast-hour with chatter of the 
sled he must have and the sport he must plan 
if he were to be in the country this winter. 

‘‘ It will be a great deal nicer than any- 
thing at Central Park, or even to be travel- 
ling, I think,” he said. Uncle Jack, don’t 
you think I may have a sled ? All country 

boys do.” 

11 * 



125 


126 Cecil’s autumn adventuees. 

^^How long since you told Eben wliat all 
city boys must do ?” laughed his uncle. 
'‘Well, yes; I suppose sleds are rather a 
necessity at this season. I think I can find 
one that belonged to grandma’s youngest boy 
once, which you can use at present, while I 
am looking after the building of a superfine 
one suitable for a city boy in the country.” 

“ Oh, Uncle Jack !” 

“ Yes, or perhaps I should say two super- 
fine ones, for I observe that you and Eben 
want things alike,” continued Uncle Jack, 
demurely. “ Scarlet is a good colour to paint 
them, I think — scarlet, with black or yellow 
stripes, and some very high-sounding names, 
such as ‘ Dragon,’ or ‘ Lightning Dodger.’ ” 

“ Oh, Uncle Jack !” cried Cecil again. 
“How perfectly — Grandma, you must let 
me say ‘splendid !’ And I don’t see why you 
object to it any way ; it’s a word that means 
lots, I’m sure.” 

“ It means too much,” said grandma, 
quietly. “ It covers everything from ginger- 
bread to a menagerie — from a penny toy to 


A SAD PUZZLE. 


127 


a steamboat. I prefer you should enlarge 
the number of your adjectives, my dear boy, 
OP' you will wear this unfortunate one to rags, 
applying it to everything, as you do.” 

Cecil went to school perfectly happy, drag- 
ging behind him a somewhat weather-beaten 
sled which Uncle Jack had brought from the 
hiding-place which had held it since his own 
juvenile days. The runners sank through 
to bare ground at every step, but Cecil did 
not mind that; it was enough for him that 
it was snowing, that winter pleasures were 
at hand, that Uncle Jack was planning such 
delights for himself and Eben. He was so 
filled with glee that he almost forgot to kiss 
Benjie for good-bye and give Mop his fare- 
well frolic. By grandma's permission the 
boys carried their dinner to school that they 
might have a longer time to play; and as 
they drew Sylvie home on the sled at night, 
it was late before they reached the terrace. 

The snow had continued to fall, and was 
now quite deep. Cecil came stamping and 
puffing into the house, shaking the powdery 


128 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

flakes from, liis clotkes, and admitting that 
for once he was quite tired out with play. 

^^But we've had a good time,” he said. 

Georgie Bell wasn't at school, but the other 
boys had sleds too, and we had such fun. 
Where’s Mop?” 

Likely he’s followed the Holbrook boy ; 
he mostly does,” said Jane, to whom Cecil 
addressed the question after whistling and 
calling all about the house. 

But neither Larry nor Mop could be found, 
and dismay seized Cecil's heart when grandma 
said. 

Why, Larry went home at eleven o’clock, 
and has not returned. I sent him with orders 
to the mill at the end of the village, and told 
him to keep on home after the errands were 
done, as there was no work planned for him 
this snowy weather.” 

^‘Do you suppose Mop can have followed 
him ?” asked Cecil, anxiously. 

^‘1 don’t think Larry would have let him 
go if he knew it; perhaps he slipped away 
to meet you coming from school.” 


A SAD PUZZLE. 


129 


But as neither nurse, Benjie, nor Jane had 
seen Mop since the morning, and as Uncle 
Jack said the same when he came in, it seem- 
ed probable that the little dog must have 
followed Larry, of whom he was very fon'd, 
and by reason of the storm and the distance 
to the cottage Larry had concluded not to 
bring him home until he came to his work 
the next day. 

To please Cecil, Uncle Jack made inquiries 
after tea in the village, but no one had seen 
Mop, and his master was forced to be content 
to believe that his pet was safely housed in 
the Holbrook cottage. 

If I only knew it certainly, I shouldn’t 
mind at all,” he said as he went dolefully to 
bed. But if he should be really lost !” 

Don’t imagine that at all,” said grandma, 
cheerfully. Just think Mop has gone on a 
visit, and how he will please poor Susie by 
his tricks and frolics.” 

Larry did not come to his work until very 
late the next morning ; and as grandma knew 
Cecil would be less impatient if occupied than 


130 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

if waiting idly, she sent him to school at the 
appointed time in spite of his reluctance, 
promising that if Larry did not come before 
noon Mr. Denny should go to his house and 
bring back Mop. At ten Larry appeared, 
but no frisking little dog with him ; and when 
Cecil came home, grandma had no good news 
to tell. 

He started to follow me yesterday morn- 
ing, but I knew I was going clear home, and 
I drove him back twice. The third time I 
came back in sight of the gate, and watched 
him trot almost to it, hanging down his head 
and tail, and looking just as he always does 
when he can't follow you. Then I ran, for 
I was in a hurry, and I haven’t seen anything 
of him since.” 

So said Larry in reply to Cecil’s eager 
questions, and told the same story to Uncle 
Jack and Mr. Denny. It looked as if Mop 
must be really lost, and Cecil roamed about, 
feeling very disconsolate and imagining all 
sorts of accidents which might have befallen 
his pet. As he stopped to ask for the twen- 


A SAD PUZZLE. 


131 


tietH time what Larry really thought had 
become of him, he saw that the boy was 
counting over something which he thrust 
hastily into his pocket at Cecil's approach. 

“ Oh, have you earned the money ?" asked 
the little boy, half forgetting his trouble in 
curiosity and surprise. 

Larry flushed crimson and looked angry, 
then recovered himself, and said, not un- 
kindly, 

^^Well, I didn’t mean you should know it. 
However, I have got fifteen dollars, and that's 
half enough. But you mustn’t tell, Cecil, or 
I shall be provoked.” 

“ What is it for ? How did you-get it ? 
You know I don’t just tease to know for the 
fun of it, but I like you, and I should like 
to help you if I could and you’d let me.” 

You are a kind little chap, that’s a fact,” 
said Larry, so heartily that his companion 
did not mind the objectionable adjective. 

How I got the money is a secret, but part 
of it is to get Susie a chair. The doctor says 
one reason her back hurts so is because we 


132 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

haven’t anything easy enough for her to lie 
on ; and then the moving her from one place 
to another is had. He told me about some 
kind of chairs that tip clear back like a bed 
or set up as straight or as leaning as you 
want, and that have little wheels to be pushed 
about with, and he said Susie needed one. 
That’s what I want to get if I can. But 
remember and not tell, won’t you ?” 

Oh yes,” said Cecil. I think it will be 
grand for Susie, and you are a real nice 
brother. I hope you’ll get it. Oh dear I I 
do wish I could find Mop, It makes me 
’most crazy.” 

But Mop could not be found. Uncle Jack 
had searched and inquired in vain ; he ofiered 
large rewards for any news of him, and 
ordered a description of him printed and 
advertised, and came home rather discour- 
aged. 

No, Cecil, I don’t think he is killed or lost 
in the snow; it is much more probable he 
has been stolen, but I don’t exactly see how 
it could be done. His value would be evident 


A SAD PUZZLE. 


133 


to a person who understood such matters, and 
in the city he could he easily disposed of; 
but here he was well known, and I think a 
thief would have trouble to get him away.” 

Cecil turned to the window to hide his 
tears at these words, which seemed to cut 
him off from hope of seeing his dear little 
dog again, and Uncle Jack continued his con- 
versation with grandma : 

“ If suspicion rested on any one here, it 
was Larry who saw him last. But of course 
he has neither temptation nor opportunity 
to dispose of him ; besides, I believe him to 
be honest.” 

^‘He is very poor, you know,” suggested 
grandma. 

“ True ; but he would have no chance to 
sell the dog if he took him. By the way, I 
wonder if Larry is in trouble at home ? He 
seemed very sober and constrained this morn- 
ing when I talked with him, and he wouldn't 
tell me what he did with his holiday-time 
yesterday.” 

On Cecil, listening at the window, the talk 
12 


134 CECIL’S AUTUMN ADVENTUEES. 

fell with a sudden flash of conviction; he 
stood still a moment with changing colour 
and throbbing heart, then burst into impetu- 
ous speech. 

“Uncle Jack, grandma,” he almost scream- 
ed, “ he did — he did ! He told me a man with 
earrings wanted to buy Mop of him, and 
Larry said he’d sell him if he only owned 
him. It was ten dollars, and Larry wanted 
twenty, and to-day he has got fifteen ; only he 
said the way he got it was a secret he never 
should tell: and I know it was Mop! The 
man teased for him. Oh, he did have the 
temptation — for Susie, you know; and I be- 
lieve he sold my darling Mop. He said ten 
dollars was bigger than a dog. Oh, the hate- 
ful, dishonest boy ! I’ll never forgive him for 
ever and ever 1” 

“ Cecil 1” said Uncle Jack, very sternly. 

But as the words trembled out of the boy’s 
impulsive lips he dashed away without listen- 
ing to his uncle’s call, and after a few bewil- 
dered remarks grandma and Mr. Burney 
followed to prevent the mischief that his 


A SAD PUZZLE. 


135 


hasty temper might do, and to examine into 
the mystery so suddenly brought up before 
them. 

Eed with wrath and furious with the sense 
of his loss, Cecil was speaking violently, while 
Larry^ white, defiant, listened dumbly. He 
turned as TJncle Jack came up. 

'‘Mr. Burney, sir,” he said, in a choked 
voice, but holding his head erect, “if I'm 
accused of stealing, it's time I quit work in 
this place. Good-bye.” 

“ Stay, Larry,” said Uncle Jack, putting 
his hand on the lad's shoulder; “you shall 
not be acccused until there is proof. For 
.my part, I believe you are honest, and Cecil 
is too excited now to know what he is saying.” 

“But I do know !” cried Cecil, furiously. 

“Hush, my boy!” and Uncle Jack's tone 
was one to be obeyed. “Larry, tell me all 
about the man you say asked to buy Mop — 
his appearance, his words, and all you recall.” 

This Larry did, turning quite away from 
Cecil and looking very white, but speaking 
without hesitation. 


136 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

what about the money Cecil says 
you have just obtained?” asked Uncle Jack. 

There it is,” said Larry, passionately, 
thrusting a crumpled wad into Mr. Burney’s 
hand. It is mine honestly, and he lies if he 
denies it.” 

This is a large sum for a boy to possess 
who earns no more wages than you do. Will 
you not tell me how you obtained it, Larry ? 
And then you will bo set right, and Cecil 
shall beg pardon for his unjust accusations.” 

'^Two dollars I got for my nuts; ask Mr. 
Warner if I didn’t. One dollar I got for 
doing errands for Mrs. Blaine ; she’ll say so. 
Mr. Plummer paid me two more for helping 
him and for a tool that was father’s, and that 
we didn’t need and couldn’t use.” 

^^And this?” asked Mr. Burney, holding 
up a crisp new ten-dollar bill. 

Larry stubbornly refused to tell anything 
more, and Cecil interposed : 

The man offered ten dollars for Mop, and 
you said you’d walk on hot coals to get so 
much money. You know you did.” 


A SAD PUZZLE. 


137 


didn’t say I’d steal, though,” retorted 
Larry. got it fairly, and that’s all I’ll 
say.” 

It was difficult to know what was best in 
such circumstances. Matters looked badly 
for Larry, yet he had always been considered 
honest. Forbidding him to go home yet, and 
saying he must have time to think over the 
matter, Mr. Burney took Cecil back to the 
house and delivered him to grandma’s care, 
and there he raged and cried until she was 
at her wit’s end to know what to do with 
him. 

It was a long time since Cecil had had one 
of his ungovernable fits of passion, but this 
time he made no efibrt to restrain it. 

Uncle Jack will find I am right,” he said. 

When Larry Holbrook has to go to jail for 
stealing my dog, I guess he’ll be sorry. I 
hope he’ll have to stay a year.” 

''Oh, Cecil, Cecil,” said grandma, sadly, 
" what a fiery little tongue ! and if Larry is 
proved innocent, how cruel you will have 
been, and how wrong!” 

12 * 


138 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

He did it, I know,” repeated Cecil, stub- 
bornly ; and grandma pitied while she blamed 
him. 

Eben came up to see his playmate, and was 
full of sympathy at the loss of Mop, but to 
Cecil’s surprise he stoutly refused to believe 
that Larry Holbrook had anything to do with 
his disappearance. 

don’t care if he had forty ten-dollar 
bills,” Eben maintained; know he did 
not steal or cheat to get ’em, and I am sure 
nobody can prove that he’s dishonest.” 

His positive assertions led to something so 
much like a quarrel between the boys that 
grandma sent Eben home and put Cecil to 
bed, forbidding him to speak another word 
about the perplexed question. She sat by 
his side and read aloud to him when he had 
become calm enough to listen, and was very 
patient and kind; but altogether it was a 
wretched evening that settled down on Elm 
Terrace, and Cecil cried himself to sleep in a 
very unhappy frame of mind. 

He would not have felt less distressed if 


A SAD PUZZLE. 139 

he had heard what Uncle Jack said to grand- 
ma when he came iii late : 

There is no doubt the man with earrings 
that Larry describes is a suspicious character. 

He has been lounging about here for several 
days, and disappeared suddenly yesterday. ^ 
I have discovered that he took the cars at 
Beedville and carried a large basket carefully 
covered. I have also found out that Larry 
Holbrook walked to Beedville four miles in 
the snow yesterday, and that is what he 
refused to tell me when I asked how he spent 
his holiday-time. The two things look ill for 
him, I must admit. Yet I did think he was 
an honest boy, if there is one.” 

Grandma sighed as she listened ; her boy’s 
loss was hard, but it seemed to her a sadder 
thing that the lad she had trusted should be 
proved so unworthy. 


CHAPTER IX. 

THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 



5OR a day or two matters seemed at a 
stand-still. If Uncle Jack was busy 
in unravelling the mystery of Mop's 
loss, he said nothing about it; and 
Cecil, having cried himself sick one day, 
went back to school the next to receive the 
pity and sympathy of his companions, and to 
grow accustomed to his loss as best he might. 
By grandma’s express command he said noth- 
ing of the suspicion attaching to Larry Hol- 
brook and none of the scholars except Eben had 
any idea of it. Georgie Bell was still absent, 
and of that Cecil was rather glad, not feeling 
sure of his sympathy. Larry was working 
with Mr. Denny at the lodge, so he and Cecil 
did not meet, and grandma hoped their pas- 
sion would be subdued and the truth estab- 
lished before they came again in contact. 

140 


THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 141 

But though Cecils tongue was still, his 
thoughts were not held in check; and the 
more he missed and longed for his lost pet, 
the higher burned the flame of anger in his 
heart. He would not believe thero was any 
possibility of Larry's innocence — I fear he 
did not want to believe in it ; and all that he 
had once thought so praiseworthy in the poor 
hard-working lad was now set aside or for- 
gotten. 

would have given him everything in 
my money-box for Susie's chair, and I would 
have asked Uncle Jack to help him,” Cecil 
said to himself. And to think he should 
take my darling Mop and give him to that 
dreadful man, who will beat him. I’m sure !” 

To the little whisper which said, Be care- 
ful ; you do not know yet if he did it,” Cecil 
chose to be deaf, and gave loose rein to his 
wrath. 

Mop had been gone three days when Cecil 
and Eben started for a Saturday afternoon 
coasting frolic on Mill Hill, a favourite resort 
of the village boys, where they had already 


142 Cecil’s autumn auventukes. 

worn what they called a regular first-rate 
coast.” It was quite at the extreme end of 
the village, near the mill from which it was 
named, and close by the millpond, which was 
not yet frozen over, but, deep and dark, rip- 
pled very sluggishly in the direction of the 
dam. 

Of the two boys, Eben was decidedly the 
happier. Cecil felt and appeared cross and 
discontented, complaining of the cold, the 
trouble of dragging his sled up hill, and the 
steepness of the road in a way quite unlike 
his usual merry self. In this mood the other 
boys did not find him agreeable, and one by 
one they left him alone, Eben even finally say- 
ing that he didn’t bargain to slide with a 
bear, and would go in search of better com- 
pany.” 

Sulky Cecil watched them run merrily away 
to try if the sliding were not better on the 
Four Corners hill, as Archer Clavering had 
declared it was, and solitary and disconsolate 
began to complain to himself : 

I don’t care. They are all very unkind. 


THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 143 

Its just the fault of that Larry Holbrook. 
If he hadn't stolen my dog, I shouldn’t have 
felt so miserable ” — Cecil didn’t call it cross 
— and I could have played. But now I’ve 
lost all my friends, and my dear little Mop 
too. I wish I could pay him back.” 

The tears welled up; and half blinded by 
them, the poor little unhappy lad trudged 
along, not noticing where he Vent and not 
caring much, so that it was away from the 
hill and toward home and grandma, who, 
however much she might blame, was sure 
also to pity and soothe. 

The road skirted the pond; and as Cecil 
drew his mitten across his eyes, he stumbled 
against something in the path, and looked 
down to see at his feet a clumsy homemade 
hand-sled with a package tied upon it. Ho 
need for Cecil to wonder ; he recognized 
Larry Holbrook’s Eough-and-Eeady,” and 
knew that its owner must have left it a few 
moments while he stopped, as he often had 
to do, on an errand from Mr. Denny or Uncle 
Jack to the miller. 


144 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

'^Ugly old tiling!” muttered Cecil, and 
gave it a passionate kick. 

Why, oh why, did he not control that 
hasty temper and keep hack the angry ges- 
ture that wrought so much harm? For the 
sled, already drawn close to the edge of the 
path to be out of the way of passers-by, was 
close on the bank, and Cecil’s angry foot gave 
it just the impetus which sent it down the 
bank and — yes, made it plunge into the deep, 
dark water. The splash told Cecil what he 
had done, and for a moment he stood still, his 
heart in his throat and his cheeks pale. Then 
a wicked little thrill went through him. 

Served him right I” and Cecil was running 
with all his speed away from the pond, away 
from Larry and confession to him of the hasty 
deed, away from the right, and straight into 
deliberate wrong. 

But the satisfaction of revenge did not last 
long ; many rods before Elm Terrace came 
in sight, Cecil’s feet lagged heavily, and a 
burdensome weight seemed resting on his 
heart. He did not want to see grandma now ; 


THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


145 


lie had lost the impulse to seek her pity and 
her counsel. He took a long time to put 
away his sled, and then went very quietly 
up to his own room. It did not seem pleasant 
there somehow ; he wanted to get away from 
the sight of the hook-shelves mamma had 
furnished so amply, and her photograph in 
its little frame on the table seemed to look 
sadly at him. He ran quickly to find Benjie, 
and engaged him in a noisy game of romps 
that he made to last till the tea-bell sounded. 
He made a very silent supper, and grandma, 
thinking he was tired from his play, sent him 
early to bed. 

Cecil thinks he will always remember the 
Sunday that followed. In church, in Sunday- 
school, in the afternoon reading with grandma, 
in the twilight, when Uncle Jack took him 
and Benjie one on each knee and sang with 
them grandma’s favourite hymns and told 
them a story of his own boyhood, poor Cecil 
was oppressed with the sense of his guilt, the 
secret of his yesterday’s passion. He longed 
to confess all, but the words choked him. 

13 K 


146 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

He had thought it would be pleasant to feel 
that he was revenged on Larry, but now he 
could only think of how^sorely he himself 
had injured the poor hard-working lad. He 
could not keep himself from wondering what 
Larry thought when he found his sled gone ; 
he conjectured if the bundle on it contained 
something for Susie, and if she was greatly 
disappointed at not receiving it. The hateful 
splash still sounded in his ears, and he de- 
spised himself for the passion which had 
caused the mischief and the cowardice which 
had made him put off confession when it would 
have been so much easier than now. 

“ If I had only hunted up Larry and told 
him that I was so angry I did not see what 
I did !” "groaned Cecil. Now I can’t tell. 
Nobody would love me any more, and it would 
all have to be written to mamma.” 

Poor little Cecil ! He forgot that his hea- 
venly Father would never cease to love him, 
and that forgiveness was waiting and ready 
for the penitent sinner. 

He was so nearly ill the next day that 


THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


147 


grandma kept him from school, and regarded 
him with great anxiety. That something more^ 
than the loss of Mop troubled him she began 
to suspect, and was just making up her mind 
to question him closely and win if possible 
his confidence when Uncle Jack came in. 

*^Well,” said he, and his voice was not 
merry, but grave and measured — “well, the 
knot is untied at last.” 

“ About Mop ?” asked grandma, quickly. 

“ I called at Dr. Bell’s this morning on 
business,” said Uncle Jack; “and while I 
was waiting for him, I talked with Georgie. 
It seems he has been out of school with a 
cold this week, and had not heard of Cecil’s 
loss.” 

“Well?” said grandma. 

“It is not well, but ill,” said Uncle Jack. 
“Larry Holbrook was not the last person 
who saw Mop ; it was Georgie Bell.” 

“ Did he steal him ?” interrupted Cecil, full 
of surprise. 

“Georgie said that on the day Mop was 
lost he saw the little fellow far down in the 


148 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

village ; Larry was some distance ahead, and 
Mop was sneaking along, stopping every mo- 
ment or two and looking so guilty that George 
guessed he was following against Larry’s com- 
mand. At first he thought he would bring 
the dog back to the terrace, lest he should 
get lost ; but having had a quarrel with Cecil, 
and feeling rather vexed with him, he con- 
cluded to play him a trick.” 

“ Did he hurt my darling Mop ?” asked 
Cecil, anxiously. 

^‘No; he frolicked with him a little, and 
then shut him up in the wood-room behind 
his father’s office. Dr. Bell was to be away 
all day, and Georgie thought Mop would be 
hidden there safely enough, and his master 
would be troubled and uneasy about him and 
think him lost. He says he planned to go 
and let him out toward night, after Cecil had 
been teased enough, but his mother would 
not let him go out again that day. He 
thought Mop would bark to be let out, and 
somebody might release him. For the wood- 
room opens out-doors, and was not locked. 


THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 149 

Afterward lie forgot about it. It was a foolish 
trick, but was not meant to be malicious or 
result in more than teasing Cecil.” 

But what did become of the dog, then ?” 
asked grandma, for Cecil could not speak. 

It is clear to my mind that the man Larry 
said wanted to buy him took him out of his 
prison. Ceorgie says a man of that descrip- 
tion watched him while he was playing with 
Mop, and whistled to him, asking the dog’s 
name. He saw where George took him, and 
it was easy to let him out when no one sow 
the act. Mop was valuable enough to bo 
worth the walk to Reedville to ensure getting 
him away safely.” 

'^Poor Larry !” said grandma, softly. 

'^Poor Larry, indeed!” echoed Uncle Jack. 

I have found out what his walk to Keedville 
that day meant, and the knowledge fills me 
with regret for our injustice to him. Mrs. 
Holbrook and Larry have been struggling 
hard to lay by enough money to pay the first 
instalment on a sewing-machine; Mrs. Blaine 
will supply her with work at good prices all 


150 Cecil's autumn adventures. 

winter if she can. but get the machine to use. 
Besides this, Larry's heart has been set on 
purchasing an invalid-chair for Susie since 
the doctor told him it was almost essential 
to prevent her suffering so much. Of course, 
with the expense of living, which must be 
met, any extra sum accumulates but slowly, 
and so Larry sold a case of tools that was 
left him by his uncle, and which was to have 
been part of his capital when he learned his 
trade. He did not ask his mother's consent 
at first, because he knew she would oppose 
the sacrifice; she knew that the tools were 
worth more than he could get for them, and 
she knew, too, how he valued them, and how 
fond he was of thinking over his uncle's words 
and looking forward to the time when he 
should be able to use his gift expertly and to 
advantage. Mrs. Holbrook told me he would 
often examine them proudly, and say they 
were more to him than a king's sceptre. 
* For,' he would say, ^ when I have mastered 
their use, mother, I can earn all the money 
you want, and send Harney to college too. 


THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 151 

And that’s all I should want to do if I was 
a king, I’m sure.’ ” 

** Poor Larry !” said grandma again. 

Yes,” said Uncle Jack, ^^and brave Larry, 
too. Cecil, what atonement do you propose 
to make for your cruel suspicions and accusa- 
tions ?” 

If Uncle Jack expected to see his nephew 
ashamed and repentant, I do not think he 
was prepared for the tempest of sobs and 
grief with which the little boy replied to his 
severe question. When, at length, he man- 
aged to tell the secret that had oppressed 
him, and to sob out something of his contri- 
tion for it, his burden seemed lightened ; and 
though he still wept bitterly, he felt that 
the worst trouble had passed. Grandma did 
not try to excuse him for what he had done 
or to lessen in the least degree his sense of 
wrong-doing and shame; but when he had 
grown calmer, she talked with him very ten- 
derly and faithfully, 

'^If you had tried to control your^ fiery 
tongue and , keep down .y6ur passionate feel- 


152 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

ings all the week, you would not have to bear 
all the pain and sorrow that you are suffering 
now,” she said. 

I know it,” said Cecil, mournfully. “ But 
I liked to keep talking and saying all the 
cruel things about Larry I could think, and 
I wasn’t willing to leave off. I just kept 
making myself crosser and crosser. Oh, 
grandma, do you s’pose there are any other 
boys so naughty as I have been ?” 

“ It is not improbable, I think,” said grand- 
ma, half smiling. But it is not with those 
boys you and I have anything to do now ; it 
is with this Cecil Vaughan, and it is he whom 
we want to cure of his faults.” 

‘‘ Mamma gave me Mop to help me to be 
good and generous, and brave in the right, 
she said, and to make me grow more like 
Jesus in my temper. But I haven’t been 
any of those things; I have let him make 
me wicked and hateful. Oh dear ! I feel as 
if I couldn’t ever be happy again,” said poor 
Cecil. 

‘^My darling,” said grandma, ^^you have 


THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 153 

had a hard lesson of how little you can do to 
keep yourself right and what a giant sin is 
for you to fight. I want you to lay it to 
heart and let it make you more careful, more 
humble, more sure to depend on Jesus for 
strength to do what is right and avoid the 
wrong. He wants you to keep your hand in 
his and never try to walk alone, and he 
means you to learn a great deal from this 
sad experience. How he wants you to come 
to him for forgiveness and believe that he 
loves this naughty boy dearly and is ready 
to help him. ‘If we confess our sins, he is 
faithful and just to forgive us.’ Come to him 
and let him make you happy again.” 

Then grandma uttered a little prayer for 
her dear boy the words of which sank deeply 
into his heart, and by the time Uncle Jack 
came back again Cecil was quite composed 
and ready to talk frankly with him. 

“Mrs. Holbrook told me that Larry lost 
his sled and a bundle of groceries on Saturday, 
and he was out searching for them when I 
went there this morning,” said Uncle Jack. 


154 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 


He thouglit some one might have hidden 
them for fun.” 

Wouldn’t my money pay for the stores, 
don’t you think ? I have added ever so much 
since Eben and I were going to pay Mr. 
Plummer, and I feel as if it belongs to Larry 
now.” 

^'Oh yes,” said Uncle Jack; ''it will more 
than pay. The bundle was some oatmeal for 
Susie, and a little tea and sugar. You shall 
go with me to buy them if you like, and come 
back with half your cash. I’ll venture to say.” 

And, Uncle Jack,” said Cecil, more slowly, 
^^you said you were going to get Eben and 
me some sleds. I — I think I ought to give 
mine to Larry, since I lost his, and it was 
not an accident, but a bad temper did it. I 
should like it to be just as handsome and nice 
as you planned it for me, and then it won’t 
make up to him for all my bad speeches. 
Maybe he’ll forgive me for those, though.” • 

And what will you do for a sled ?” asked 
his uncle, kindly. 

. “I can, use this little one that used to be 


THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 


155 


yours/’ said Cecil, with a quiver in his voice. 

It goes pretty well ; it is all I deserve, any- 
how, and I should always feel I owed the new 
one to Larry. I wish you’d give Eben his just 
the same, please, won’t you ? He stood up 
for Larry, you know, and didn’t believe he 
stole Mop. I know he wants a sled, and his 
aunt said she couldn’t afford him one. So he 
was going to try to make one.” 

Well,” said Mr. Burney, ^^it shall be as 
you say. It is justice, I admit, but it is not 
very easy always to do what is just. I am 
glad you show the strength of your repentance 
for your fault by your readiness to make what 
amends are in your power. Do you want to 
speak to Larry yourself, or shall I do so for 
you ?” 

^‘I think I ought,” said Cecil, manfully. 
^^If any one had treated nie so, I shouldn’t 
think much of his just sending me word he 
was sorry. Only I’d rather wait until morn- 
ing.” 

^^Very well,” said Uncle Jack, shaking 
hands with his nephew and looking pleased. 


156 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

Tliougli Cecil’s head ached from crying, 
and his heart was still sore at thought of all 
the past, he confessed to himself that he felt 
happier than he had done for a week, and 
that it was quite possible he should get back 
his usual spirits in time. 

“ If I only knew that ear-ring man would 
treat poor Mop well !” he said to himself. “ I 
s’pose I shall never see him again, but I wish 
I knew he was comfortable.” 

-Larry Holbrook received Cecil’s confession 
and request for pardon rather silently at 
first; he had been sorely hurt by the suspi- 
cion of his honesty, and he could not regard 
it as a small matter. But when he saw how 
grieved the little boy was, and how eager to 
make all possible amends, his reserve melted, 
and he gave full and hearty forgiveness. 

“You’re a good little chap, after all,” he 
said. “ 'Tisn’t strange you felt stirred up at 
losing your dog. But a poor boy that hasn’t 
anything but his word can’t well stand having 
that go for nothing.” 

“ I’m sorry,” repeated Cecil ; “ if you only 


THE MYSTERY EXPLAINED. 157 

knew how dreadful it makes me feel! ^ I 
couldn’t bear it if God didn’t tell me he 
would forgive me, and unless you forgive me 
too. You don’t know how bad it is to have 
such a temper as mine.” 

I guess I ain’t much less of a sinner 
myself, if not in that particular line,” said 
Larry, dryly. Now, Cecil, do me a favour, 
will you ?” 

will do anything for you that I can,” 
said Cecil, promptly. 

Promise not to tell Eben or any one else 
how my sled was lost. I won’t tell mother, 
only that it was accidentally shoved in the 
pond, and how it happened we’ll keep to 
ourselves. You’re sorry enough, and there’s 
no need of any more folks knowing what you 
really never meant to do.” 

Oh, Larry, how good you are 1” said Cecil. 

I did feel bad to have Eben know how mean 
I was. But I want to be honest.” 

Honesty don’t require you to tell him,” 
declared Larry. As for the goods, you may 
pay for them, because they are a loss. But 

14 


158 Cecil’s autumn adventuees. 

the sled wasn’t worth much, and I can make 
another ; never mind about that.” 

But I do mind, and I shall pay for that 
too,” said Cecil. I do feel so much better 
now it is settled. You’re sure you forgive 
me, Larry, and will try to like me again ?” 

Yes, indeed !” and though boys like Larry 
are not much given to caresses, he put his 
arm over Cecil’s shoulders and gave the little 
lad a hearty squeeze. Then Cecil capered 
back to the house, feeling, he said, as if ten 
thousand pounds had been taken off his heart. 


CHAPTER X. 


A BOY'S SPEECH, 

3EX DENNY rejoiced greatly when 
told of the truth regarding Mops 
disappearance and the proof of Larry 
Holbrook s innocence, but he gener- 
ously said nothing to his playmate in reproach 
of his unjust accusations, and tried to console 
him with a hope that the stolen dog might 
yet be recovered. 

“ No, I can’t expect that,” said Cecil, sadly. 

I only hope that man won’t beat him, and 
will sell him to a kind master. But it rather 
seems as if a person that steals must be cruel 
too, and I’m afraid Mop won’t be very happy.” 

“ I should like to give the old fellow * hale- 
klumby,’ I’ll bet!” cried Eben, doubling his 
fists wrathfully. After all, it seems as if 
Georgie Bell was the one to blame ; for if he'd 
have let Mop alone, maybe the man wouldn’t 

159 ^ 



160 CECIL'S AUTUMN ADVENTURES. 

have seen him again. He ought to be whipped 
for trying such a trick. If anybody gets 
mad, and hits anybody else before he knows 
it, that’s bad enough. But to hold a grudge 
and play a mean underhanded trick isn’t re- 
spectable.” 

Look here, Eben,” said his friend, after 
a little hesitation : I feel pretty much as 
you do about it, or I did. But I’ve made my 
mind up to forgive Georgie right off without 
saying or thinking anything about it. I’m 
sure I have needed to have Larry forgive me, 
and I don’t think I’m the one to complain 
when I’ve done so much worse myself by 
being angry. You see, George did not mean 
anything but a trick, and he supposed Mop 
would be all right really.” 

*^Well, you’re complete 1” said Eben, with 
an affectionate glance. 

No,” said Cecil, candidly. “ Don’t you 
remember when we got home from Penny ville 
we thought we were going to keep in mind 
what we thought of in the flood that night ? 
You have, but I haven’t ; I have been naugh- 


A boy’s speech. 


161 


tier than I ever thought I should be again, 
and I find I Ve got to be more in earnest and 
mind every single thing — the littlest ones — if 
I am going to grow better and be ready to 
resist the big temptations when they come.” 

*^It’s queer what a tug it is to be good, 
isn’t it?” said Eben, meditatively. Seems 
as though it might have been made easier 
just as well. But I calculate Aunt Celindy 
is right when she says that part of it isn’t for 
our explaining. Come along ; there’s the first 
bell ringing.” 

In one opinion the boys were agreed, and 
that was their high esteem of Larry Holbrook 
and their admiration of the sacrifice he had 
made of his most precious possession for the 
sake of his sister. Even that, however, had not 
been sufficient to procure the chair for poor 
Susie; and though by its means Mrs. Hol- 
brook was now in possession of a machine, it 
would be a long time before even with that 
help enough could be earned to pay for such 
an expensive piece of furniture. The boys 
talked much of this, wishing they could de- 
14 * L 


162 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

vise some means of helping the good brother 
to the required sum, but it was difficult to 
arrange any feasible plan ; Larry would not 
accept a gift of money. Of course the boys 
could not by themselves get the chair, much 
as they would have liked to do so; so they 
planned, and wondered, and wished ; and “ Oh, 
if I were only a man !” was heard from Cecil’s 
lips oftener than ever before. 

Grandma was taken into their counsels at 
last, and it would seem that something was 
determined on, for the boys spent every mo- 
ment of their time out of school in the library, 
where they kept up such a chatter and such 
a wholesale use of pens, ini^, and paper that 
Uncle Jack declared they meant to bankrupt 
him or force him to buy out a stationer’s 
stock if they kept on at this rate. 

Cecil and Eben only laughed at this, but 
as the week drew to a close they grew more 
and more busy, and went about with such 
anxious faces that it was quite perplexing to 
see them. Friday came, and an important 
Friday it was, for Miss Fontaine had said 


A boy’s speech. 163 

tlio children might ask any of their friends 
to be present during the “ speaking exercise,” 
and great was the fluttering of little hearts 
at the idea. Never did the boys con their 
declamations so earnestly and practice ges- 
tures so faithfully; never did the little girls 
take such interest in the whiteness of their 
ruffled aprons and the stiffness of their frilled 
skirts ; on that Friday everything must be at 
its best. 

One last consultation with Miss Fontaine, 
one more private confab with Georgie Bell 
behind the dressing-room door, and then 
Eben and Cecil took their places side by side, 
the former looking very earnest and steady, 
and Cecil with a flush coming and going in 
his cheeks and his eyes shining like stars, as 
grandma thought, looking at him from across 
the room. For grandma was there, and Sylvie 
Deane’s mamma, and Aunt Laura, and Dr. 
Bell was there, and many others, come each 
one to hear and praise his or her own partic- 
ular darling. And the darlings did well, each 
and all of them. Miss Fontaine had not 


164 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

drilled them to no purpose ; and if some little 
voices trembled with shyness at first, they 
soon quieted into easy, natural tones, and the 
recitations went on with a simple grace that 
charmed all hearers. 

It could not be that Cecil was nervous 
about his own part, for he spoke among the 
first and made every one laugh at his account 
of Boy’s Pocket.” It was not that he 
dreaded Sylvie Deane’s failure, for after she 
had recited Little Mabel,” looking herself 
like a winsome ideal of that “ fair brave little 
child,” Cecil’s cheeks kept on their changing 
flush and his eyes danced restlessly. At last, 
almost at the close of the afternoon. Miss 
Fontaine announced : 

^‘An original declamation, written by two 
of the pupils, spoken by Eben Denny.” 

Cecil’s hands pressed tightly together un- 
der the desk as his companion left his side 
and walked with his usual resolute step down 
the aisle. With a composed bow, tossing 
back his auburn hair and looking around 
with those keen hazel eyes, Eben began : 


A boy’s speech. 


165 


My friends, it is no tale of thrilling woes 
or warlike prowess that I have to tell. It is 
of truth — unvarnished, unexaggerated truth — 
I speak; and for the truth’s sake pray you 
hear me I” 

(The boys got this out of an old '^School 
Speaker” of Uncle’s Jack’s, and regarded it 
as a marvel of eloquence for an opening sen- 
tence.) 

^^Not far from our own doors there lives 
a boy who is a hero. He does not wear a 
soldier’s plume, he has never done anything 
to write his name on history’s page, but he 
is, I say again, a hero. Now, I will tell you 
why. This boy has lost his father — a man 
who loved his son as our fathers love us, and 
who would have done as much for him as our 
fathers do for us if he could. But the man 
died, and the boy and his mother and his four 
little brothers and sisters were left to take 
care of themselves. And the boy did it. He 
gave up going to school, and he gave up hav- 
ing play-times with other boys, and he gave 
up trying to have good times. He worked 


166 Cecil’s AUTUMN adventures. 

at all he could find to do ; he earned all that 
he could get; he gave it all to his mother, 
and didn’t keep any pennies for marbles or 
taffy or fireworks. And, my friends, listen 
to this: ho never grumbled; he was always 
cheerful; he never complained and asked 
help. No ; he worked as if it was the pleas- 
antest thing a boy could do. He was brave.” 

Eben’s voice rang out clear and true, and 
he made a gesture at this climax that was 
emphatic and natural, without mentioning 
the grace of it. 

“ In this boy’s home, the abode of- poverty 
and toil, was one little sister who was very^ 
sick. She couldn’t play nor walk about. 
She was always sick. But she was patient. 
She did not fret. She was 

‘ Gentle as the summer breeze, and mild ; 

Full of sweet faith and patient cheer.’ ” 

(Cecil had found these lines in one of his 
mamma’s books, and insisted that they should 
be applied to poor Susie.) 

‘‘•This boy loved his sister, and would have 


A boy’s speech. 


167 


clieer fully walked on liot coals to help her 
and make her well. He said so, but he acted 
so too. One day he sacrificed something he 
dearly liked, and gave up the best thing he 
owned, that his dead uncle gave him to keep 
for ever and ever, and he wanted to keep, and 
sold it, so he might have money to buy a chair 
which he greatly needed for this dear sick 
sister. My friends, this is a true story. And 
because one of the scholars in this school was 
careless and angry, and another was full of 
passion, a misfortune came, and people thought 
this boy was the cause. And he was thought 
to have stolen, and the money he got by his 
unselfish giving up was suspected, and this 
cheerful, brave boy was accused of stealing. 
How sad a circumstance I How would you 
feel, my friends, if it was you ? 

^^For many days this boy was hurt and 
troubled because he was in disgrace unjustly, 
and his heart ached. Presently the truth 
was found out, and the cajreless and angry 
pupils who had been to blame, and the ones 
who treated him cruelly because they thought 


168 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

him a thief, were sorry. But being sorry 
does not mend things entirely. The boy was 
kind, and forgave them ; he stills works cheer- 
fully, and hasn’t money enough to get the 
chair for his sister. I cannot tell you all the 
good I know about him, but I want to ask 
you a question : Do you not admire such a 
boy, and do you not want to help him ? My 
friends, I think you will say ^ Yes,’ for we have 
much and he has nothing. Some of our 
school injured him, and he forgave them ; one 
of us was careless, and suffered for it. I 
think you will wish to help such a boy. My 
friends, I will now tell you how.” 

Eben paused, looking about with those 
hazel eyes that forgot to be merry now, and 
were filled with the light of an earnest, gen- 
erous purpose. 

“It is almost Christmas-time. We all of 
us expect to have Christmas gifts; we shall 
have more than one or two, each of us. This 
boy’s mother cannot afibrd him one little one. 
This boy’s sister will have nothing to make 
Cliristmas gay. Let ^s each agree to give 


A boy’s speech. 


169 


up one of our expected presents and ask our 
friends for the money it would cost. Let us 
put the money all together and buy a chair 
for that brave boy’s gentle sister, and give 
it to him for a Christmas present. Who will 
do this ? It is not much to give up one thing 
out of the much we have. My friends, I ask 
you to remember what Christmas means, and 
then I am sure you will say yes. This is all 
the truth I had to tell.” 

Eben bowed down low ; and as he took his 
place by Cecil, the astonished listeners looked 
at each other, at him, and then little hands 
began to clap, little feet to stir, and a hearty 
round of applause, greeted the original dec- 
lamation ” so unexpectedly practical and true. 

Eben had been too much in earnest with 
his subject to remember that he was saying 
something he had learned by rote ; in several 
places he had not spoken just as he and Cecil 
had so painstakingly written it out, and the 
boy’s fervour quite inspired those who had 
not known what he was to say. Of those in 
the secret, Cecil only was too excited to listen ; 

15 


170 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

liis head had drooped on his desk long ago. 
But Georgie Bell raised his hand as the ap- 
plause ended, and rising, said, manfully, 

“ I will do what Eben says. I will ask to 
give the money that my very best present 
would cost.” 

Then one boy’s curly he id came upright, 
and clear and sweet his voice said, 

I too ; I will do the same.” 

Then hands began to go up all about the 
room; and smiling. Miss Fontaine gave the 
signal for leaving seats, and the children 
crowded about Eben’s desk and questioned 
and exclaimed and agreed, while the grown 
people laughed and talked among themselves. 

That boy is a natural orator,” said Dr.' 
Bell. He deserves high praise.” 

' Grandma smiled; she too was proud of 
Eben, but she did not think his oratory was 
his best gift just then. She was thinking of 
the boy’s kind, generous heart and his sturdy 
resolution to carry out any good work, and 
of the promise in him for the future. 

Well, there is not much more to .tell of 


A boy’s speech. 


171 


that afternoon’s proceedings. There was not 
one pupil who listened to Eben’s speech who 
did not agree with Georgia Bell and Cecil, 
and promise to ask leave to give up one Christ- 
mas gift to Susie Holbrook and her unselfish 
brother. 

*‘Do you know what such a chair costs? 
Maybe we shall have enough to get something 
else for Larry too,” said Archer Clavering. 

It is expensive : Uncle Jack knows, and 
he will help us buy it. I . should like to get 
Larry something, I’m sure,” said Cecil. “ I 
think it is grand that everybody is willing to 
help.” 

“ My ! I guess we are, after that speech,’* 
said Archer. ^^How did you ever get it up 
so complete and interesting, I would like to 
know ?” 

“ Yes,” joined in Sylvie. How could you 
make up such a nice story, Eben? ’Most 
made me cry to hear about that boy.” 

“It wasn’t made up; it was true,” said 
Eben. 

“But it took you to tell it,” said Cecil. 


172 CECIL'S AUTUMN AD VENTURES . 

“ I declare, I felt like flying when you began, 
but I knew you’d do it just right.” 

Eben looked rather red and uncomfortable 
at so much admiration, but he was too well 
pleased with the solid result of his eloquence 
not to bear what he called soft talk ” pa- 
tiently. 

“ I tell you,” he said as he and Cecil walked 
home with grandma that afternoon — ‘*1 tell 
you, more’n half the credit of the notion be- 
longs to you, Cecil. I'd never have thought 
of it alone. But that don’t matter partic- 
ularly, so long as Larry gets what he has 
wanted so much and worked so hard for. I 
didn’t hardly expect the scholars would all be 
so generous, but I believe they are as nice 
a set of boys and girls as can be found any- 
where.” 

What present did you know of that you 
are going to give up ?” asked Cecil. 

But Eben pretended not to hear that ques- 
tion, and ran ahead without reply. He could 
be generous, but he did not like to hear it 
talked .about. 


CHAPTER XI. 

MERRY CHRISTMAS.— CONCLUSION. 

HE two weeks between that Friday 
and Christmas slipped away very 
rapidly, for there was so much to be 
done that every moment was full ; and 
we all know that busy time flies swiftly. 

Uncle Jack made several mysterious ex- 
peditions up to the city ; the expressman 
was constantly bringing knobby, odd-shaped, 
strongly-fastened-up packages ; grandma went 
about with an air of mystery, and was often 
locking and unlocking the library door ; while 
Eben, Cecil, and small Benjie were in a state 
of perpetual chuckle and effervescence, bob- 
bing about in the way of the grown people 
and giving a general impression that Elm 
Terrace held some dozen boys, instead of just 
three. 

Twice Uncle Jack was accompanied to the 

15 * 173 



174 Cecil's autumn adventures. 

city by the two older boys and Georgie Bell, 
who, since the result of his mischievous trick 
had proved so disastrous, had left off what 
Eben called his “ mean ways," and was good 
friends with both his old opponents. Nobody 
but Uncle Jack could have contrived to man- 
age all three boys, take them all to select 
Susie Holbrook’s chair, and then assist each 
separately to expend his hoarded pocket- 
money on mysterious articles kept strictly 
secret from the other two. He did it to per- 
fection, however, and seemed to enjoy it as 
much as did the lads, who came home each 
entirely satisfied with the result of the* ex- 
pedition, and full of fun at all he had seen 
and heard. 

Cecil's money was considerably diminished 
by the inroad made by the purchase of the 
groceries he owed Larry Holbrook, but his 
uncle helped him calculate so closely that he 
got a present for every one of the family, 
including Eben and his absent friends, and 
had two cents remaining. 

It isn't so much as I meant to give grand 


MERRY CHRISTMAS. — CONCLUSION. 175 

ma/’ said Cecil, surveying the little white 
plaster-of-Paris cast of a shepherd boy" 
which he held in his hand. ^^But she will 
know why I hadn't much money, and I rather 
think she will like this, don’t you ?” 

'‘I am sure of it," said Uncle Jack. 
heard her say she wanted a little statuette 
for the bracket in her room, and this is just 
the thing." 

So Cecil’s last doubt was allayed, and his 
satisfaction complete. 

Cecil had been accustomed to hang up his 
stocking on Christmas eve, and thus receive 
his gifts, but this year grandma proposed to 
have a Christmas tree instead, and to invite 
the Deane, Bell, and Clavering families, all 
special friends of the Elm Terrace people, to 
join in the festivities. This was pleasant 
indeed ; and when she added to the list Larry 
Holbrook and little Harney — Harney, who 
in all his short life had scarcely heard of 
Christmas trees and gifts at all — Cecil’s de- 
light knew no bounds. 

I do believe there never was such another 


176 Cecil's autumn adventures. 

person as grandma,” he said to Eben. She 
thinks of everything that is nice for every- 
body else, and is always willing to take trouble 
to please.” 

That's because she has the real Christmas 
spirit,” said Eben, wisely. Don’t you know 
what Miss Fontaine said about that? Some 
folks have the getting spirit, but some have 
the giving spirit, and your grandma is that 
kind.” 

My mamma is too,” said Cecil, eagerly. 

'^Well, your grandma brought her up, 
didn’t she?” said Eben, coolly. I tell you 
what, it makes a lot of difference what kind 
of bringing up people have. You ought to be 
a good boy, Cecil Vaughan, with such folks as 
you have; and it’s my opinion we ought to 
make considerable allowance for boys that 
don’t have such kind of folks to keep ’em 
straight.” 

The gravity of this remark rather oppressed 
our impulsive boy, and he assented to it with 
a sigh of mingled responsibility and gratitude; 
but as Mr. Denny just then called them to go 


MERRY CHRISTMAS. — CONCLUSION. 177 

with liim into tlie woods for evergreens, botli 
boys pranced away and postponed further 
weighty conversation. 

It was difficult to say which of the Elm 
Terrace children was most uproarious and 
merry during the week, but on the day before 
the grand festival Eben certainly carried off 
the palm. He came up from the lodge in 
such a state of excilfement and mirth that 
Cecil, who was himself practising extraordi- 
nary gymnastics on the front stairs, looked at 
him in positive wonder. Eben's eyes never 
looked so brightly twinkling, his honest face 
never glowed with such broad smiles ; he 
fairly bubbled over with laughter, and seemed 
unable to remain quiet one second. 

What does ail you, Eb ?” asked his friend, 
staring at him in surprise. 

Never you mind," chuckled Eben. “ Christ- 
mas ails me, that’s all. My land ! isn’t it jolly ? 
Seems as if I couldn’t hold in a minute 
longer." 

Whereat he made a rush at his playmate, 
grasped him by the shoulders, and after a 
M 


178 CECIL’S AUTUMN ADVENTURES. 

playful struggle they both sank laughing and 
panting on the floor. 

You know something, I’ll bet,” said Cecil, 
regarding the hazel eyes keenly. 

^^Hope I ain’t a dunce,” retorted Eben, 
with another chuckle; then relapsing into 
graver tones, he said, ^^Do you expect your 
father will come really?” 

don’t know; he said * perhaps’ in 
his letter. If I could only have him and 
mamma and Madge here, I think I should 
bo perfectly happy. But mamma can’t 
come, anyhow, and so I try not to think 
about it.” 

I should like to see ’em myself, I declare,’ 
said Eben. ** Madge is about the pretties^ 
girl I ever saw; she looks like a picture, 
somehow.” 

She is better than pretty, I think,” said 
Cecil. ‘‘Hark! There are the sleighbells; 
now we’ll know if papa is coming.” 

It was not Uncle Jack who leaped out al- 
most before Bayard stopped, and came strid- 
ing up the steps ; it was Cecil’s own dear tall 


MERRY CHRISTMAS. — CONCLUSION. 179 

papa, who caught him up and kissed him, and 
yet could give Eben a hand-shake in the first 
minute of greeting. 

Mamma could not endure to have her 
boys away from both parents this Christmas- 
time, so she packed me off to look after them, 
and here I am. I can stay two days, so make 
the most of me,” said Colonel Vaughan as 
Benjie climbed on his knee and Cecil hung 
on the back of his chair, while Eben stood 
near, gazing with all his eyes at his playmate’s 
handsome, stalwart father. 

It was no wonder he thought Cecil ought to 
be a good boy with such folks.” 

If mamma could but have been present too, 
the children’s joy would have been perfect ; it 
was the next best pleasure to hear all her 
messages from papa, and, nestling close to his 
side, to tell him all the incidents and experi- 
ences of the autumn months since he went 
away. It was not hard to tell him of the 
naughtiness, even : and the long talk Colonel 
Vaughan had with his little son when the 
story was told was laid away in the boy’s 


180 Cecil's autumn adventukes. 


heart, and would not be without its good 
fruit. 

Evening came, and never had Elm Terrace 
looked more beautiful to the friendly group 
assembled there. Brilliant lights glowed in 
each room, shining on the Christmas wreaths 
and mottoes which tasteful hands had ar- 
ranged on wall and picture-frame, over doors 
and windows. The folding-doors leading to 
the library were closed, and as the clock 
struck seven the children clustered before 
them; and led by the sweet voice of Sylvie 
Deane s aunt Laura, they sang a quaint old 
English caro\, the words of which I think 
you will like to read : 

“ The shepherds heard at Bethlehem 
Glad tidings of great joy, 

Of a Saviour who was born for them, 

And born for thee, dear boy. 

They saw him in a manger lie, 

So lowly was his birth : 

Glory be to God on high. 

And peace to men on earth. 

“ Though many a rule be taught in school, 
Example is the best ; 


MERRY CHRISTMAS. — CONCLUSION. 181 


One boy of truth and spotless youth, 

How doth he guide the rest ! 

Then take a lesson with thine eye, 

And look on J esus’ birth : 

Glory be to God on high. 

And peace to men on earth. 

“ lie bowed to all his Father’s will. 

And meek he was, and lowly, 

And, year by year, his thoughts were still 
Most innocent and holy. 

He did not come to strive or cry ; 

But ever from his birth 
Gave glory unto God on high 
And peace to men on earth. 

“ Like him be true, like him be pure. 

Like him be full of love ; 

Seek not thine own, and so secure 
Thine own that is above. 

And still when Christmas-tide draws nigh. 

Sing thou of J esus’ birth : 

Glory be to God on high, 

And peace to men on earth.” 

'As the last notes died away the folding- 
doors rolled back, and there, in all its glory 
of brilliant tapers and pretty gifts, stood re- 
vealed the Christmas tree. 


16 


182 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

A murmur of delight and surprise arose 
from the company ; and when they had 
looked and admired for a few moments, the 
gifts were distributed by Uncle Jack and 
Colonel Vaughan. There was something for 
each ; and so loaded were the children’s hands 
and arms presently that you could hardly 
believe that every one had given up the best 
and most costly gift designed for this occa- 
sion. That it was so, however, was abun- 
dantly manifested by a peculiar-looking chair 
which stood close by the tree — a chair with 
wheels and downy cushions that could be 
made straight or reclining at will, that had 
a rack in front to hold a book or toys, and 
handles by which it could be pushed about — 
a beautiful, wonderful invalid-chair which bore 
on its arm a card reading thus : 

From twenty healthy, grateful school-chil- 
dren to Susie Holbrook and her kind brother 
Larry ; with a Merry Christmas !” 

The astonishment and delight of Larry when 
Uncle Jack read out this card and wheeled the 
handsome chair toward him were beyond de- 


MERRY CHRISTMAS. — CONCLUSION. 183 

scription. His thanks were mingled tears and 
smiles, and no one thought less of him for the 
emotion that choked his voice and made his 
lips tremulous. Other gifts for himself and 
Harney, and for the three little Holbrooks at 
home, were not lacking, and the heart of the 
courageous, industrious lad was filled with 
gratitude for the Christmas cheer kind friends 
had given him. 

Eben gloried in the new sled, bright with 
scarlet paint, flashing with steel runners, and 
named Telegraph and Cecil praised and con- 
gratulated and admired without envy, though 
he knew another sled of similar colour and 
beauty had gone to the Holbrook cottage that 
morning, and that he himself could only own 
and use that winter the somewhat battered, 
dull-hued one that had been Uncle Jack s. 
But our boy had done right, had made honest 
amends for past harm ; and that feeling in his 
heart was better than the possession of a new 
sled. Cecil owned that, and was content. 

‘^What a beauty I’V he exclaimed to his 
friend, who stood staring at his treasure in 


184 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

speecliless joy. ” It’ll go swifter than any of 
the boys’, you may depend. I’m real glad, 
Eben.” 

‘^You’re going to be gladder in a min- 
ute,” said Eben, with a sudden joyous laugh. 
'^You’re not the only one that can keep a 
secret.” 

And there, through the opening door, came 
Mrs. Denny, her plump face wreathed in smiles, 
and holding something tightly in her arms 
covered with her apron — something that wrig- 
gled and struggled and gave a smothered 
sneeze and whine under the apron ; and before 
Uncle Jack could open his lips to make the 
funny speech he had ready, bounced out of 
Mrs. Denny’s grasp, and rushed, yelping and 
leaping, upon Cecil — Mop 1” Yes, Mop ! that 
veritable frisky dog, who licked his master’s 
face all over with funny little whines and 
barks of pleasure, and clasping whom Cecil 
sat down upon the floor and actually cried 
for joy. 

It was Eben who thus explained matters to 
his bewildered friend, sitting close beside 


MERRY CHRISTMAS. — CONCLUSION. 185 

him on the carpet and joining in caresses of 
Mop : 

You see, Mr. Burney was determined to 
get him ba«k, and he advertised and set the 
police hunting him, and did lots of things, 
and finally they got the man and made him 
tell where Mop was. And he was brought 
down from the city yesterday, and he was at 
the lodge all day, and I thought I should go 
crazy trying not to let you know. That’s the 
reason I acted so, and why I stayed up here, 
so you wouldn’t come down to our house,” 
said Eben, laughing. Aunt Celindyjust had 
to give up and coax him all day to keep him 
still; he was just possessed to scamper up 
here — ^he knew he’d got 'most home, you see ; 
and we had to keep the doors locked, and he 
whined so in the night she let me take him 
into bed at last, and to-day he acted worse, 
but we were bound to give you this surprise ; 
and oh my land ! isn’t it complete, old fellow ? 
Seems as if I couldn’t stand a bit more !” 

And having thus jumbled the story of Mop’s 
recovery and his own feelings into one breath- 


186 Cecil’s autumn adventures. 

less, hurried speech, Eben flung his hands down 
and his heels up with a squeal of delight, and 
after thus standing on his head a half second 
came upright on his feet, looking very red and 
rather abashed at his own antics. 

The happiest time must end some time : so 
when the gifts were all admired, and the cake 
and fruit all eaten, the guests went home with 
many smiling adieus and congratulations. 

Sylvie Deane came back to kiss Cecil a 
second time and to say. 

You precious child ! I am just as glad as 
I can be ; and if you don’t be the goodest boy 
in the world after this, it will be your own 
fault.” 

I cannot promise that our curly head has 
been actually the “goodest boy in the world” 
since that memorable happy Christmas, but it 
is certain he has been less passionate and 
hasty, more brave and generous, more humble 
and earnest in following Jesus, than if he had 
not learned the lessons taught him by the 
“autumn adventures” recorded in this little 
book. 







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